‘There was a rift’ – Lionel Messi lifts lid on Paris Saint-Germain fans after departure to Inter Miami

Lionel Messi revealed there is a ‘rift’ between Paris Saint-Germain supporters after his troubled two-year spell at the club came to an end.

The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner was booed by pockets of PSG fans after a two-week suspension for an unsanctioned promotional trip to Saudi Arabia.

Despite both former head coach Christophe Galtier and club captain Marquinhos speaking out in defence of the Argentine, Messi leaves France far from being universally adored.

However, the 2022 World Cup winner does not appear to have taken the boos personally and cites how fellow stars Kylian Mbappe and Neymar were treated in a similar fashion.

“At first it was great, I received a lot of encouragement as I’ve often said, but then people started to treat me differently, some of the Paris fans,” said Messi in an interview with RMC Sport.

“The majority, on the other hand, treated me as well as they did at the start. There was a rift with a large section of the Paris crowd.

“Of course, it wasn’t my intention. But these are things that have already happened with Mbappé and Neymar too, it’s their way of doing things. But I still remember all those people who supported me, as they did at the start.”

Jordi Alba could still join the duo after also agreeing to leave newly-crowned Spanish champions at the end of the campaign.

The club, co-owned by David Beckham, have endured a dismal start to the campaign and sit bottom of the Eastern Conference with 15 points from 17 games.

The South Florida side are still without a manager after sacking Phil Neville earlier this month.

Messi and Busquets could both make their respective debuts for Miami in a League Cups match against Mexican side Cruz Azul on July 21.