Lionel Messi is left OUT of Samir Nasri’s combined Real Madrid and PSG XI with former Arsenal midfielder opting for a front three that includes ‘best player in the world’ Kylian Mbappe, Karim Benzema and Neymar
- Samir Nasri has named his combined XI for Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain
- The pair meet on Wednesday for the second leg of their Champions League tie
- Ex-Arsenal and Manchester City star has left out Lionel Messi from his team
Lionel Messi would not get close to the starting line-up of a combined Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid XI.
That is the view of one former Champions League star, with Samir Nasri omitting the Argentine great from his team when asked to compile one ahead of Wednesday night’s clash.
Messi has endured a difficult time adapting to life in France since leaving Barcelona in the summer.
Samir Nasri has left Argentine Lionel Messi out of his combined PSG and Real Madrid best XI
He recently equalled an unwanted record by failing to register a single shot on target for the capital outfit during their recent Ligue 1 clash with Nice.
He has scored just twice in the league this season, and has a total of just seven goals. His struggles were illustrated in the first leg too when he saw his penalty saved by Thibaut Courtois at Parc des Princes.
With Nasri’s squad, which he delivered in an interview with L’Equipe, based mainly on current form and availabilty, it is perhaps not too suprising that the Argentine missed out.
Instead, the former Manchester City and Arsenal star opted a front three that included Kylian Mbappe, Karim Benzema and Neymar.
The former Manchester City and Arsenal man described Kylian Mbappe as the world’s best
Nasri believes that, alongside Robert Lewandowski, Karim Benzema is one of the best No 9s
On Messi’s team-mate Mbappe, Nasri said: ‘He is the best player in the world at the moment.
‘His team’s game is not the same with and without him, and we are talking about a team with Messi, Neymar, Di Maria!’
Nasri picks Benzema ahead of Messi to spearhead his team, insisting his former France team-mate ‘is better now than when he was younger.’
‘If he’s absent, it’s like the Gobi desert for Real Madrid. In terms of No 9s, a part from Lewandowski. Nobody sits at his table.’
Elsewhere, Nasri picks Neymar over Vinicius, despite admitting that the Real Madrid star has perhaps been in better form this season, while he also opts for Gianluigi Donnarumma over Thibaut Courtois, depsite his impressive season for Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
Nasri is currently working as a pundit for Canal+ in France, having hung up his boots in 2020.
The 34-year-old ended his playing career in Belgium with Anderlecht, having spent the majority of it in England where he played for Arsenal and won two Premier League titles with Manchester City.
Nasri, who works as a pundit for French broadcaster Canal+, was speaking to L’Equipe
