Lionel Messi is expected to make his PSG debut

• Lionel Messi is expected to play for PSG against Angers on Wednesday.
• PSG coach says the club are in talks with Messi over a new contract.
• The 35-year-old took part in training with his teammates.

Lionel Messi is expected to play for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) for the first time since winning the World Cup on Wednesday in a Ligue 1 match at home against Angers, as the French club looks to sign the Argentine to a new contract.

On Tuesday, the 35-year-old took part in training with his teammates, just over three weeks after inspiring Argentina to a penalty shootout victory over France in the FIFA World Cup 2022 final in Qatar.

Following the tournament, he was given a two-week break in his home country before returning to Paris and being honoured with a guard of honour at PSG’s training ground last Wednesday.

Prior to the FIFA World Cup, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, who had scored 12 goals in 19 games for his club this season, sat out PSG’s victory at Chateauroux in the French Cup.

However, he might get the nod as the Ligue 1 front-runners host Angers, who are last in the standings and have dropped their last nine games.

Since Messi’s initial two-year contract in Paris is coming to an end, many people will be watching how he approaches the second half of the season in France following a World Cup that defined his career.

The Qatar-owned club, however, is in talks to extend his contract, with coach Christophe Galtier insisting the former Barcelona star is settled in Paris.

“I know there are talks and that the club has spoken to Leo, but I’m not sure where they stand,” Galtier told reporters on Tuesday.

“Leo seems to me to be happy in Paris, and I think there is a real desire on behalf of the club to extend Leo’s contract,” Galtier added, adding that PSG’s football advisor, Luis Campos, was in talks with Messi’s representatives as well as president Nasser al-Khelaifi.

After missing PSG’s French Cup victory while on vacation in New York with teammate Achraf Hakimi, Kylian Mbappe, who scored a hat-trick for France in the World Cup final, may once more be rested for PSG’s midweek match.

Neymar has been receiving treatment for the ankle injury he sustained while representing Brazil at the World Cup, and Italy midfielder Marco Verratti is out for PSG, who lost their last league game at Lens on New Year’s Day, handing them their season’s first loss.

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