Messi to PSG good for Ligue 1, bad for competitiveness – Fonte
Lille defender Jose Fonte says Paris St-Germain’s signing of Lionel Messi is good for the French Ligue 1, but bad for the competitiveness in the division.
The Argentinian superstar joined the Parisiens from Barcelona after he was unable to sign a new contract with the Catalan club due to their financial issues.
Mauricio Pochettino now has a superb squad at his disposal, boasting a front line of Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar.
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PSG will look to claim back the Ligue 1 title after losing out to Lille last term, which Fonte believes will be likely.
He told talkSPORT: “In a way, for the league it was good to have Messi. He brings in the eyes and everyone wants to see Messi and these great players play.
“In a way it was fantastic to have all these great players come to the league, but in terms of competitiveness and to have other teams being able to compete for the title and have some interest in disputing that title it is tough.
“You come after COVID-19 where it was a difficult time for French football, not many clubs can buy players and could make big singings.
“Then you see PSG bringing in top, top players. I know most of them were free transfers, but you still have to pay the wages.”
Fonte admits his team didn’t have a productive transfer window, which has also been overshadowed by how good PSG’s was.
He added: “It was tough. Coming off winning the title you want to be competitive and keep competing against PSG mainly.
“Our transfer window wasn’t the greatest and then you see PSG adding all these great players. It is a bit disappointing and frustrating, but you fight with the weapons you have and we will try to fight with the weapons we have.
“We will try to do it again this year.”
Elsewhere, Nedum Onouha believes Man City star Phil Foden should be mentioned in the same conversation as Mbappe.
He told City is Ours: “At this moment, I don’t think Phil is Ronaldo or Messi but I think he can be as good as the people who come in just behind that. I think he can be spoken about on the world stage as one of the best.
“In terms of timing, the fact those two players are in their mid-to-late 30s, why would you not aspire to be part of the conversation? People laud a Kylian Mbappe and someone like that — why can’t Phil be spoken about in the same manner?”
