The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi has struggled to find his best form in France Since leaving the La Liga for the first time in his career.
Lionel Messi has scored just twice so far this season in 17 Ligue 1 appearances and has registered an impressive 10 assists.
The 34-year-old who joined Paris Saint-Germain on a two-year contract had a slow start to life in Ligue 1 but has been picking up form in recent weeks.
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Former Barcelona and Arsenals legend Thierry Henry who played with Messi at Barcelona has asked fans to have patience with Lionel Messi as he ‘suffered emotionally’ while leaving the Catalans in the summer.
He then spoke about the Argentine’s troubles while talking about mental health in sports, attributing his lack of form to the emotional turmoil he had to go through while leaving the Spanish giants.
Speaking to L’Equipe, the Frenchman was asked whether he thought that Messi’s goal scoring woes are linked to his wellbeing, to which he replied: “You’d have to ask him, I can’t speak for him. But, when we talk about Messi or Neymar, who are exceptional players, we too often forget that aspect.
“When Lionel cried on leaving Barcelona, that wasn’t part of the plan. When you think you’re never going to leave somewhere, and then suddenly it happens, it creates an emotional shock.
“People say, ‘he’s fine, he’s got everything he needs in Paris’, but it’s not that simple. “When I left Arsenal for Barcelona it took me a year to feel good. I arrived there with an injury, going through a divorce, I have to learn a new system, you mix all of that up and it plays on the mind.”
Neymar, who has struggled with injuries, is certainly capable of stepping up when Mbappe departs, as well as Messi.
Henry also spoke about his concerns with the mental health of Neymar in his interview.
“When you analyse an action and he doesn’t position himself properly, okay, that’s a fact and it must be said. Yes, he is a little worse than he has been, but there are reasons,” said the Arsenal legend.
“Neymar has often talked in his recent interviews about his well-being, about the pressure, so my first thought is: ‘Is he ok?’.
“It’s not about that he no longer does nutmegs, sombreros, or about the fact that he doesn’t beat people with his pace anymore.
“He talks, but can you hear him? He’s asking for help – there are things happening in his head, just like any other human being.”
It remains to be seen how PSG act upon Henry’s comments behind the scenes and
Can PSG fans be patient as Messi is yet to find his feet and to showcase why he is one of the best players to ever grace a football pitch whilst in the Ligue 1.
