Ex-Liverpool star urges PSG to sell Messi after another poor display against Bayern

Former Liverpool star Steve McManaman has urged Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) to sell Lionel Messi and other old stars in their squad after another disappointing Champions League exit. 

PSG crashed out this season’s Champions League after losing to Bayern Munich 3-0 on aggregate across two legs. 

The French champions had lost the first leg 1-0 in Paris three weeks before they were taught a football lesson at Allianz Arena, losing 2-0 on Wednesday night. 

Messi played both games, but the Argentina international cut a frustrated figure in the two matches, with Bayern players keeping him quiet. 

The 35-year-old, who won the World Cup with Argentina late last year, was a shadow of his former self in the two matches. 

Still, there are reports that PSG are interested in tying Messi down to another one-year contract, with his current deal set to expire in the summer. 

However, McManaman has urged PSG to sell him and other stars in the twilight of their careers. 

The former Real Madrid star insists PSG will have to move their big players on and start a rebuilding process if they want to compete. 

"Lionel Messi will be a year older, Sergio Ramos likewise. Neymar can't keep fit at the latter end of seasons. Marquinhos is getting on. The big players are going to have to move on,” McManaman told BT Sport. 

The former England international’s thoughts were also shared by ex-Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves. 

Hargreaves says PSG should stop going for the big stars and start looking for the best young talents in France. 

The ex-Bayern Munich man says PSG have let a few young talents leave for their rivals in Europe, but it has to stop going forward. 

"PSG should rip the whole project up and start from scratch. They have the best young talent pool in all the world from Paris, Hargreaves said. 

"Why are they going to Salzburg or Dortmund or Leicester? They should all be playing for PSG.

"They could win Ligue 1 with those players then sprinkle in one or two superstars,” he added. 

PSG have no time to dwell on the result as they face Brest on Saturday in their next Ligue 1 fixture.