Former Real Madrid midfielder, Christian Karembeu, has told Paris Saint-Germain fans that their forward Lionel Messi is more than a player.
Karembeu also said that PSG fans made a mistake by booing Messi a few weeks ago.
He said this while jumping to the Argentine’s defence, explaining why he needs to be respected in France.
Messi and Neymar were booed by their own fans during their home Ligue 1 game against FC Bordeaux in March.
The fans expressed their frustration after PSG’s exit from the UEFA Champions League in the round of 16 stages at the hands of Real Madrid.
Karembeu told Spanish publication AS: “When Messi plays, everything is always full wherever he goes. It happens here in France.
“He is a sensational player, but he is also an attraction for the French League. Messi is more than a player. In France, we have to respect this boy more, because he attracts people. He is very important.”
He added: “You can never whistle at Messi, because he’s a crack. It’s a mistake made by the fans, because Messi always needs affection and if the public offers him affection, he will end up standing out. It wasn’t easy for him to leave Barcelona.”
Messi left his boyhood club Barcelona to join PSG on a free transfer last summer.
