Lionel Messi is confident that he will enjoy a more productive season for Paris Saint-Germain in 2022-23 after finding it difficult during his first campaign at the club.
The 34-year-old surprisingly left Barcelona on a free transfer last summer due to the Catalan outfit's financial problems, with PSG ultimately signing him on a two-year deal.
Messi ended the 2021-22 campaign with 11 goals and 14 assists in 34 appearances in all competitions, but he only found the back of the net on six occasions in Ligue 1.
The Argentina international has confirmed that he will be remaining with PSG this summer despite talk of a potential return to Barcelona, and he is confident of being "way better" next term.
"Next season will be way better for me with Paris Saint-Germain, I'm sure. It was not easy after that crazy summer," Messi told TyC Sports.
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"It was really difficult to understand what happened, I wasn't expecting to leave Barcelona - it was a shock. I had everything in Barcelona. I went to Barcelona when I was very young. I lived more in Barcelona than in Argentina. The truth is that I had no plans to change anything.
"Luckily the adaptation of the kids was good, but for Antonela and for me it was more difficult."
Messi also had his say on the reaction of the PSG fans in the latter stages of the season, with a section of supporters whistling the players during certain matches.
"It was new for me, it's a different situation. It had never happened to me in Barcelona but quite the opposite. The situation of the people and the anger for the players we had, for the team we were and because another year [went without a Champions League title], the anger is understandable," he added.
"The Real Madrid thing killed us. To me, to the entire dressing room in general, to all of Paris."
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Messi scored 672 goals and registered 302 assists in 777 appearances for Barcelona before shocking the world of football by leaving on a free transfer.
In a recent interview with L'Esportiu, Barcelona president Joan Laporta said: "We would've liked Messi to stay, but it wasn't to be. And it wasn't to be because of La Liga's Financial Fair Play rules and PSG's offers. When players are like that, they find they cannot leave because the deals are worth many millions of euros."
According to the Daily Mail, both Messi and his father Jorge Messi are becoming increasingly frustrated with Laporta's comments, who is often asked about the South American returning to Camp Nou.
Messi is currently with the Argentina squad preparing for their Finalissima contest with Italy, which will see the holders of the Copa America take on the winners of Euro 2020 in a one-off fixture.
PSG recently managed to sign Kylian Mbappe to a new contract, while Neymar is set to stay at the club this summer despite the recent speculation surrounding his future, but the French giants are believed to be considering boosting their attack with the arrival of Ousmane Dembele from Barcelona on a free transfer.
Matt Law
