Lionel Messi has signed a two-year deal with Paris St-Germain after leaving Barcelona. The Argentine superstar will reportedly earn €30 million per year, making him the highest paid footballer of all time.
Lionel Messi has signed a two-year deal with Paris St-Germain after leaving Barcelona. The Argentine is one of the most popular footballers in the world and will be playing for PSG from 2021. Read more in detail here: paris soccer team.
Lionel Messi has joined PSG with other superstars Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.
After leaving Barcelona, Lionel Messi has signed a two-year deal with Paris St-Germain.
The 34-year-contract old’s also includes a third-year option.
Under La Liga’s financial fair play regulations, Barcelona – Messi’s lone club – was unable to finance a new contract, forcing him to leave.
“I’m looking forward to starting a new chapter in my career in Paris. The club’s mission and objectives are perfectly aligned with my goals “Argentina’s star remarked.
“I’m well aware of the players’ and staff’s abilities. I’m committed to work with them to create something special for the club and the supporters. I’m looking forward to walking onto the Parc des Princes field.”
“I am pleased that Lionel Messi has decided to join Paris St-Germain, and we are proud to welcome him and his family to Paris,” PSG president Nasser al-Khelaifi stated.
“He made no attempt to conceal his ambition to continue to improve and win trophies at the top level. Of course, the club’s goals are the same.
“Leo’s accession to our world-class team demonstrates the value and effectiveness of our recruiting efforts. I am looking forward to watching our team create history for all of our fans across the globe, together with our fantastic coach and his staff.”
Messi is widely regarded as one of the best players of all time, having scored 672 goals in 778 appearances for Barcelona, the club he joined when he was 13 years old.
With the Catalan club, he has won the Ballon d’Or a record six times and won 35 titles.
After the additions of Netherlands midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum, Spain defender Sergio Ramos, and Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, he becomes PSG’s fourth free-transfer acquisition of the summer.
Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, a highly regarded right-back, has also joined from Inter Milan.
Messi, who will wear the number 30 jersey, will play in a front three with Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, the two most expensive players in history.
On Wednesday at 10:00 BST, PSG will hold a press conference at the Parc des Princes auditorium.
On Saturday, Messi may make his PSG debut against Strasbourg at home.
Why did Messi decide to leave Barcelona?
At the Nou Camp, Lionel Messi’s pictures are being pulled down.
President Joan Laporta’s main goal this summer was to keep Messi at the Nou Camp, but negotiations over a new deal were hampered by the club’s financial difficulties.
When his previous contract ended on July 1, he became a free agent, although it was generally expected that he would remain.
Last Monday, though, Barcelona announced that Messi would be leaving the club due to “financial and structural difficulties.”
He broke down in tears during a press appearance on Sunday, admitting that he didn’t want to leave Barcelona but that he didn’t have a choice.
Messi had agreed to a new contract for half of his previous salary to remain at Barcelona, but the club couldn’t afford to execute it since it exceeded La Liga’s pay cap.
Guillem Balague, a sports writer for Radio 5 Live, said: “He used to make 140 million euros gross a year at Barca, which is approximately £125 million.” “Deduct approximately 40% to 50% for taxes.”
“He agreed to remain in Barcelona in exchange for a 50% pay cut, but not more than that since it would be unlawful [under Spanish law]. Essentially, the league would not think he was lowering his salary to nothing, as Barcelona may have attempted due to their 1 billion euro debt. They just cannot afford him.”
The revelation prompted a bidding war for his talents, with Manchester City and Chelsea among the clubs connected. However, it was PSG who emerged victorious in the battle to acquire the Argentine superstar, regarded as one of the most notable signings in football history.
With his former Barcelona teammate Neymar, France World Cup champion Mbappe, and another Argentine, Mauro Icardi, he will create a dangerous attack force.
Messi will also be joined in the French city by international teammates Angel di Maria and Leandro Paredes, barely three weeks after the trio helped Argentina win the Copa America for the first time in 28 years.
Is Messi the most important player in the Champions League?
In a decade of Qatari ownership and accompanying significant expenditure, PSG has failed to win the Champions League, with a final loss to Bayern Munich in 2020 being the closest they have come.
Last season, Mauricio Pochettino’s team finished second behind Lille in Ligue 1.
“Clearly, the ownership of PSG wants a club that is in the Champions League final every year,” Balague remarked.
“You have an edge with Messi.” They have an idea how to achieve it now that Mauricio Pochettino is in charge, and his contract has been extended, and Messi will add to that.
“Even though they lost last season, they are virtually certain to win the league this year. It will be a less competitive league, which means he will be fresh for the Champions League campaign, or should be.”
The chronology of Lionel Messi’s transfers
August 25, 2020 – Messi sends the club a fax stating that he wants to activate a provision in his contract that allows him to depart for free immediately.
September 4th, 2020 – Messi claims he will remain at Barcelona because any team would find it “impossible” to pay his 700 million euro (£624 million) release clause, which the club insists must be fulfilled.
The date is October 27, 2020. Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu resigns after a spat with Lionel Messi over a rejected transfer request.
28th of December, 2020 Messi says he wants to play in the United States one day, but he is uncertain about his future when his current deal expires.
The year 2021 begins on the 31st of January. Barcelona has threatened to take “necessary legal measures” against the Spanish publication El Mundo for publishing details of Messi’s £492 million four-year deal.
16 May 2021 – Manager Ronald Koeman says he hopes Lionel Messi hasn’t played his last home game for the club after a 2-1 loss to Celta Vigo ruined their championship ambitions and left them outside the top two for the first time since 2007-08.
22nd of May, 2021 – Messi’s contract status is said to be “closely scrutinized” by Paris St-Germain.
28 May 2021 – Barcelona president Joan Laporta says a new deal for Lionel Messi hasn’t been finalized yet, but “things are moving nicely.”
Messi’s Barcelona contract ends on July 1, 2021, and he becomes a free agent.
15 July 2021 – Messi signs a contract extension with Barcelona until 2026, which involves a salary cut.
Barcelona announces Lionel Messi would quit the club “due to financial and structural difficulties” on August 5, 2021.
August 8, 2021 – Messi confirmed his exit from Barcelona, saying that a transfer to Paris St-Germain is “a possibility.”
10th of August, 2021 Messi has signed for PSG, according to Guillem Balague of Sport. The club announced the transaction that night.
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