PSG have officially announced the signing of Lionel Messi. Fans have qued outside the Paris airport to get a first-time glimpse of the little magician on their soil.
Lionel Messi has now officially finalized as a Paris Saint-Germain player after flying to the French capital ending his career-long association with Barcelona.
…and here’s Leo Messi on the plane together with his wife Antonela, rumbo a Paris. Time to have medical and sign as new PSG player. ✈️🇫🇷 #Messi #PSG
Historical day. pic.twitter.com/cOrK1Aej1f
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 10, 2021
Earlier today, the Argentine had agreed to a 2-year long contract with PSG with an option to extend until the month of June 2024. He is set to be earning around 35 million euros with add-ons as per reports from the Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano. Messi leaves Barcelona as their record all-time top goalscorer with 682 goals in all competitions since joining them in 2004.
He shall be joining his fellow Argentinians Angel Di Maria, Mauro Icardi and Leandro Paredes as well as the former Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino. He will be reunited with his former Barcelona compatriot Neymar Jr. since his departure in 2017 for a world-record fee of 222 euros.
The 34-year old leaves his boyhood club and the only club he has played for until now due to Barcelona being unable to afford a new deal under La Liga’s financial fair play rules. There were several attempts that had been made to renew Messi’s contract when Barcelona’s on-field performances didn’t go as planned. Messi even made it clear in his farewell speech on the 8th of August stating “ Last year I didn’t want to stay, and I said it”
Messi had shared a bitter relationship with the former club president Josep Bartomeu until Joan Laporta took over on the 17th of March 2021. This changed the decision of the Argentine and committed his future to Barcelona. On the 1st of July, Messi’s contract had officially expired making him a free agent. This was not an issue back then as there was a verbal agreement between both parties as the club were formalising a new contract for their star man.
On August 5th, Barcelona broke the news that Messi will not be continuing with the club.
LOOK: Fans waited outside the Camp Nou stadium where Lionel Messi held a press conference on Sunday, Aug. 8.
The Argentinian superstar fought back tears as he confirmed he is leaving Barcelona, where he has played his entire career. | 📸: AFP
READ: https://t.co/de2gh99mPF pic.twitter.com/t8CTbPNfrS
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) August 9, 2021
“Leo wanted to stay and the club wanted him to stay, but with the La Liga rules it has not been possible.” said the club president Joan Laporta
Due to Barcelona being in huge debt, they could not afford to re-sign the forward even if he played for free. Laporta explained that with Messi on board, the club’s wage-to-turnover percentage would be 110 per cent and without him, it would be 95 per cent which is still well above the Financial Fair PLay cut off mark leading to the departure of the six-time Ballon d’Or winner.
I'm not even a Barca fan and I almost cried watching this. I can't fathom their feelings now, losing this immortal on the pitch is irreplaceable. It's truly a major thing in football…Messi leaving Barca.
The beautiful game is bittersweet😪. https://t.co/oAQKJVS3v3— Fakoli's Heir (@Kamanda_Koroma_) August 5, 2021
Lionel Messi was given the stage to bid farewell to his teammates, the club and their fans. “We had everything agreed, but at the last minute, it couldn’t happen. This year I wanted to stay and I couldn’t,” said Messi
After a brilliant transfer market for PSG, they now have the addition of Lionel who will now be seen in the blue and red strip.
