Mascherano: Messi's relationship with Paris is a thing of the past

Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano has expressed his hope that his compatriot Lionel Messi will approach the upcoming match against his former club Paris Saint-Germain with extra enthusiasm when the two teams meet in Atlanta in the round of 16 of the Club World Cup. Mascherano noted that Messi, who left Paris in the summer of 2023 to start a new experience in the American League, has nothing to prove after his illustrious career, but stressed: "It's better for us if Messi plays while he's fired up, because he's the type of player who goes the extra mile when he has something to achieve." He continued: "However, I think his relationship with Paris Saint-Germain is in the past, and the match and atmosphere will be different because it's being played in the United States." The Argentine coach emphasized that facing the French team will be difficult and require exceptional effort, saying: "Any chance of winning requires a perfect performance, and one mistake could cost us a lot, but we will try to put in a great performance."