Cesc Fabregas has slammed PSG fans for jeering Lionel Messi, claiming that the Parisians have never had a player like his ex-Barcelona teammate in their lives.
Speaking to MARCA (h/t Goal), former Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas has hit out at the fans of Paris Saint-Germain after they jeered Lionel Messi during a Ligue 1 encounter against Bordeaux.
Messi signed for PSG last summer, moving on a free transfer after his contract with Barcelona had run out. The move has not worked out as per plans for the club or the player as the 34-year-old has been unable to hit the ground running. In 18 Ligue 1 outings so far, the Argentina captain has scored just two goals.
Messi was also unable to inspire PSG through to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League as the team succumbed to a defeat to Real Madrid in the Round of 16, despite winning the first leg.
Messi and Neymar, in particular, have attracted a lot of ire from the fans following the debacle, with a major section of the supporters resorting to booing and jeering the former Barcelona duo in the aftermath of their Champions League exit.
Cesc Fabregas on PSG fans whistling LIonel Messi: "PSG have never had a player like this in their lives. It's better to be grateful, to support him and not crush him." This via Marca. pic.twitter.com/FxDVxSIoQ8
— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) March 27, 2022
Now, Fabregas, who played with Messi at Barcelona between 2011 and 2014, has come to his defence, claiming that the fans were wrong to react the way they did.
“I know what happened with PSG. The fans want to create a moment of tension with the players. During the match they support you, when they sing your name, perfect, but what I saw the other day, jeering when Neymar lost the ball or whistling when they touched the ball, is very ugly,” the AS Monaco midfielder said.
“They justify that they get paid a lot, they lost against Real Madrid, that’s fine, but didn’t they want to win? That’s what comes first. With PSG they haven’t won anything yet, for the moment, but they will surely win the league. You’re talking about a player [Messi] who has just arrived. PSG have never had a player like this in their lives.
Fabregas then urged the fans to get behind the Argentine superstar, insisting that it is only a matter of time before he comes good for PSG. “It’s better to be grateful, to support him and not crush him. This year or next, these guys will bring you great moments,” he added.
Messi’s situation at PSG has led to him getting linked with a return to Barcelona. The 34-year-old signed a two-year contract with Les Parisiens which runs until 2023. Whether he decides to continue at the club beyond the season or cuts short his stay in the French capital remains to be seen.
