PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi exclusive: Lionel Messi happy in Paris; Marcus Rashford as a free agent – why not? | Football News

Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi says he is confident Lionel Messi will extend his stay with the club when they discuss his future in January – and confirmed Man Utd’s Marcus Rashford could be a summer transfer target if he is a free agent.

Speaking to Sky Sports News, Al-Khelaifi smiled when recent reports suggesting Messi would be heading to MLS at the end of the season were mentioned and insisted the Argentina captain is happy in Paris, where he is having a fine season for the Ligue 1 leaders.

Messi, who has helped his country into the quarter-finals of the World Cup, is out of contract in the summer and Al-Khelaifi said a potential extension to his two-season stay at PSG will be discussed in January.

“Definitely,” said Al-Khelaifi when it was suggested Messi appears to want to stay in Paris for longer.

“He’s very happy, you can see that with the national team. If a player’s not happy you will see their performance not good for the national team. He performed fantastic this season for us, he’s scored a lot of goals and assists for the national team and for the club.

“So what we agreed together – that after the World Cup, sit down together. But both sides – our side of the club and him – are very happy, so we will talk after the World Cup.”

Rashford for free in the summer? Why not?

Another player who is out of contract at the end of this campaign – although Man Utd have an option to extend the deal by one more year – is Rashford. He has impressed in Qatar, scoring three goals for England on the back of an encouraging return to form for his club under Erik ten Hag.

Al-Khelaifi confirmed his club had been in touch with the player previously and said if Rashford was to be a free agent in the summer he would have lots of clubs chasing his signature – including PSG.

Negotiations could start as soon as January, should PSG wish to pursue a deal.

“He’s another player that is really amazing,” said Al-Khelaifi. “And for free? To have Rashford for free, every club would run after him, definitely.

“We’re not hiding it, we spoke before and… interest. But the moment was not a good moment for both sides. Maybe, summer, why not?

“Today if he’s a free agent of course we can talk to him directly but we are not going to talk to him now. Let him focus on the World Cup. Then after in January, hopefully, if we’re interested we will talk to him.”