Lionel Messi looks more comfortable heading into his second season with Paris Saint-Germain as goals have returned to the 35-year-old this 2022-23 football campaign.

Spanish journalist Guillem Balague spoke with The Parisian (h/t Parisian fans) regarding the Argentine’s state of mind. Balague tells the French publication that Messi has never been happier and everything is going well in his second year at PSG.

“Happy as he has never been!” Things are going well on the pitch, the team has adapted to him, or rather he has his hand in the game,” Balague said.

Balague goes on to say that Messi being happy with his situation with the French giants allows him to play better football than he did in the 2021-22 football season, where he struggled. to score goals.

“All the coaches who have coached him since he was 11 say the same thing: Leo must be happy to develop his best football,” Balague added. “That is exactly what is happening today. He feels a certain kind of freedom in what he can do.

“Apart from his little injury at the moment, he feels good, sharp, has done a real pre-season preparation, he hasn’t had to live for months at the hotel, has recovered from a long infection due to Covid, Antonella (his wife) is working, she is developing her hairdressing business, the children are doing well at school… All the things that held him back last season no longer exist today. He has a free spirit.

Now, when it comes to Lionel Messi’s future, there have been plenty of reports about where the 35-year-old will be next season as his contract with PSG expires in June 2023.

Messi has many paths to follow, whether it’s extending his contract with the Ligue 1 side, returning to FC Barcelona or saying goodbye to Europe and joining the MLS team.

“Today I think he’s closer to staying because he feels good; he’s happy,” Balague said. “But no decision will be made by the World Cup. It will be decided between January and next June. He has a two-year contract plus an option. But this option must be validated by both parties.

“And if he wishes to stay after 2023, a new contract will have to be negotiated. But if you ask me my feeling – and it’s just a feeling – at the moment Messi is closer to staying in Paris than returning to Barcelona or moving to Miami.