Ligue 1 side PSG have signed Lionel Messi on a free transfer. The deal is reported to be a two-year deal with an option of a further year.
On Sunday, Messi announced his departure from Barcelona where he had spent the last 21 years. He arrived in Paris on Tuesday to have a medical and finalise a move to PSG.
Messi became a free agent when his contract expired this summer. Despite agreeing to a pay-cut of 50 per cent, Barcelona still couldn’t fit him into their wage bill.
The club stated that “financial and structural obstacles” were the reasons they couldn’t renew his contract and that keeping Messi would have put the club at “financial risk”.
The Argentine leaves Barcelona as both top scorer and top appearance maker of all time for the club, with 672 goals from 778 matches.
On signing for PSG, Messi revealed his principal purpose was to win trophies for his new side.
“Leaving Barcelona was so hard, but I’m so happy to join Paris Saint-Germain, an ambitious club with a top team.
“I still want to win, as I wanted it in the first moment of my career. I want to keep winning titles and that is why I came here to this club.
“This team is ready. There are some new transfers, but they have been close and are ready [to win the Champions League]. I have just come here to help. My dream is to win this trophy again and I think Paris is the best place to do so.”
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Messi also said he is excited to play alongside the world’s “best players” as he links up to play alongside Neymar and Mbappe.
When asked how he feels about the potential combination of himself and the attacking duo, he said:
“I am very happy. It’s crazy. I had a lot of envy; but I’m going to play with the best players in the world, and that’s always good.”
Messi will reportedly earn in the region of €30 million-35 million per season during his time at PSG. However, there will also be team and individual bonuses which could further increase that amount.
Messi joins the likes of Gianluigi Donnarumma, Gini Wijnaldum and Sergio Ramos to sign for PSG on a free transfer. The French giants also acquired the services of Achraf Hakimi for €70m from Inter Milan.
PSG have already kicked off their Ligue 1 campaign with a 2-1 win over Troyes last weekend and will be hoping Messi can help them claim the title they narrowly lost to Lille last season.
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