Former France midfielder Emmanuel Petit has claimed Paris Saint-Germain are “not a football club” and said the whistles being aimed at Lionel Messi have become an “insult to football”.

Messi was booed by his supporters during a Ligue 1 clash against Lyon last weekend.

Petit has insisted that the 35-year-old should be shown greater respect.

The 1998 World Cup winner told RMC Sport: “When I hear that, for me, it’s an insult to football.”

Petit has also encouraged Messi to leave Parc des Princes, as no player improves at the French club.

He added: “It’s not a football club." It’s a pre-retirement club, even for 20-year-old players.

“Nobody has improved while at PSG; is that Messi’s fault? He’s the magician with a wand; it’s up to the players around him to make an effort.

“Only the PSG fans don’t get that you need a squad built around Messi, which they don’t have and won’t ever have, because [the management] are terrible in the market.”