Psg Signs Lionel Messi After He Leaves Barcelona For 2 Years

Paris:

Argentina ahead Lionel Messi, who left Barcelona after 21 years final week, has signed a two-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain, with the choice of an extra yr, the French membership introduced on Tuesday.

Messi, 34, will put on the quantity 30, the quantity he had when he started his skilled profession at Barca, and is about to be unveiled by PSG at a press convention they’ve known as for 11:00 am (0900 GMT) Wednesday.

“I am excited to begin a new chapter of my career at Paris Saint-Germain,” he mentioned in a press release on the membership’s web site.

“Everything about the club matches my football ambitions,” Messi, who was given a hero’s welcome by the PSG followers when he arrived within the French capital on Tuesday, added.

“I understand how gifted the squad and the teaching employees are right here.

“I am determined to help build something special for the club and the fans, and I am looking forward to stepping out onto the pitch at the Parc des Princes.”

Warm welcome

Messi, who was a free agent after his shock departure from boyhood membership Barcelona final week, landed at Le Bourget airport to the north of Paris on Tuesday afternoon.

There he was greeted by tons of of PSG supporters who had gathered hoping to catch a glimpse of their new signing.

Those followers additionally gathered outdoors the membership’s Parc des Princes residence and close to a luxurious resort within the metropolis the place Messi together with spouse Antonella and their three youngsters are anticipated to be staying.

Messi waved to crowds whereas sporting a Paris t-shirt on his arrival on the airport earlier than being taken for his medical.

Messi’s father Jorge, who can be his agent, had earlier confirmed the inevitable as he arrived at Barcelona’s El Prat airport to board a flight to France.

Asked by reporters if his son would signal for the French membership, he replied: “Yes”.

The completion of his transfer closes a whirlwind few days following the announcement final Thursday that he would go away Barcelona, the membership he has represented for everything of his 17-year skilled profession.

PSG’s transfer for Messi had been an open secret for days, though experiences in Spain on Monday night time talked of a “final offer” by Barcelona to attempt to maintain the participant.

Instead, the six-time Ballon d’Or winner will be a part of a PSG assault already that includes Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.

Qatar-backed PSG see Messi because the lacking piece of their jigsaw as they chase the Champions League, the trophy they need greater than the rest.

“Back together,” Neymar, who performed with Messi at Barcelona earlier than transferring to PSG in 2017, posted on Twitter.

Coming to phrases

Barcelona are nonetheless coming to phrases with the departure of their best ever participant, who mentioned goodbye to his membership of twenty years at a tearful information convention on Sunday.

Despite providing to chop his wage by half to seal a brand new five-year contract with the Catalans, the deal foundered on Spanish league wage cap guidelines.

Barcelona, carrying money owed of 1.2 billion euros ($1.41 billion), are unable to register new signings due to their monetary predicament.

With Abu Dhabi-owned Manchester City having dominated themselves out, PSG have been about the one membership who might afford what is predicted to be a deal value 35 million euros ($41 million) a yr.

He leaves Barcelona with 672 objectives in 778 appearances, a report tally for one membership.

Messi gained 35 trophies on the Camp Nou after becoming a member of Barca aged 13, however his final look was a moist squib: a 2-1 residence defeat behind closed doorways towards Celta Vigo in May.

His trophy haul consists of 4 Champions Leagues and 10 La Liga titles.

“It will be difficult to see him in another shirt than that of Barca,” Messi’s previous Barcelona team-mate Andres Iniesta, now taking part in in Japan, informed AFP in an interview on Tuesday.

“As a player he just transcended everything. I’ve not seen a player like him — and I don’t think I ever will. You look at what he did and for so long…”

PSG constructing

This summer time PSG have already added veteran Spanish defender Sergio Ramos from Real Madrid and Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, the star of Euro 2020.

They have additionally signed Georginio Wijnaldum from Liverpool, snatching the Netherlands’ midfielder from below the noses of Barcelona, and spent 60 million euros on Inter Milan right-back Achraf Hakimi, who scored on his PSG league debut on the weekend.

Messi might be unveiled to supporters on Saturday, when PSG host Strasbourg and a full home of practically 48,000 shall be allowed in for the primary time for the reason that coronavirus pandemic struck 18 months in the past.

However he’s unlikely to make his debut till later this month on the earliest.