Paris: Former France national player and World Cup winner David Trezeguet has voiced his criticism of his nation’s lack of appreciation for talent. Trezeguet specifically targeted Ligue 1 giant Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), which signed Lionel Messi two years ago with the hope that he would be the missing piece to fulfil the club’s elusive dream of winning the UEFA Champions League.
However, PSG’s failure in the European competition led to Messi receiving the brunt of the criticism. In response, Trezeguet defended Messi and expressed his disappointment in France’s failure to recognise and appreciate the Argentinean maestro’s talent. In an interview with ESPN Argentina, as quoted by Goal.com, Trezeguet stated, “France never appreciated talent and, therefore, the country never understood Messi. His arrival in Ligue 1 was an opportunity to make the league more attractive than the Premier League, Serie A, La Liga, and even the Bundesliga. However, France has never appreciated Messi’s talent. He is a player who can change the dynamics of football at all levels, bringing image and prestige like few others can.”
Trezeguet further highlighted the criticism faced by himself and other former French players, including Thierry Henry, Christophe Dugarry, and Bixente Lizarazu, for defending Messi. He questioned whether it was their fault for siding with talent and the magic of football.
Despite facing criticism individually, Messi had a satisfying stint at PSG. In his first season, he fell short of winning the Champions League, but he still managed to score 16 goals and provide an equal number of assists. Recently, he was honoured as the Best Foreign Player in Ligue 1 for the 2022-23 season. Following his departure from PSG, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner is set to join Inter Milan, a club owned by former England football legend David Beckham.
Trezeguet’s comments shed light on the perception of Messi’s time in France and the challenges faced by a player of his calibre in a league that may not fully appreciate his talents. As Messi embarks on a new chapter in his career with Inter Milan, the focus will now shift to his performance and impact in Serie A, where he aims to continue his legacy as one of the greatest footballers of all time.
Discussion about this post