Lionel Messi Signs 2-Year Deal With French Club PSG After Leaving Barcelona

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 a further 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’m excited to start a brand new chapter of my profession at Paris Saint-Germain,” he stated in a press release on the membership’s web site.

“The whole lot concerning the membership matches my soccer 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 proficient the squad and the teaching employees are right here.

“I’m decided to assist construct one thing particular for the membership and the followers, and I’m wanting ahead to stepping out onto the pitch on the Parc des Princes.”

Heat 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.

These followers additionally gathered exterior the membership’s Parc des Princes dwelling and close to an opulent lodge 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.

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

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 the whole lot of his 17-year skilled profession.

PSG’s transfer for Messi had been an open secret for days, though studies in Spain on Monday evening talked of a “last provide” by Barcelona to attempt to hold the participant.

As an alternative, 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.

“Again collectively,” Neymar, who performed with Messi at Barcelona earlier than shifting 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 stated goodbye to his membership of 20 years at a tearful information convention on Sunday.

Regardless of 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 Metropolis having dominated themselves out, PSG have been about the one membership who may afford what is predicted to be a deal price 35 million euros ($41 million) a yr.

He leaves Barcelona with 672 targets in 778 appearances, a file tally for one membership.

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

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

“It is going to be tough to see him in one other shirt than that of Barca,” Messi’s previous Barcelona team-mate Andres Iniesta, now enjoying in Japan, instructed AFP in an interview on Tuesday.

“As a participant he simply transcended all the pieces. I’ve not seen a participant like him — and I do not suppose I ever will. You have a look at what he did and for thus lengthy…”

PSG constructing

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

They’ve additionally signed Georginio Wijnaldum from Liverpool, snatching the Netherlands’ midfielder from beneath 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 could possibly be unveiled to supporters on Saturday, when PSG host Strasbourg and a full home of almost 48,000 will probably be allowed in for the primary time for the reason that coronavirus pandemic struck 18 months in the past.

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

(Apart from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is printed from a syndicated feed.)