August 10, (THEWILL) – After spending the entire day teasing expectant fans and the entire football community with titbits about the signing of Lionel Messi on a free transfer, Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain finally announced the completion of the process to make the Argentine a full-fledged player of Les Parisiens.
It was billed to be the biggest transfer of what had been a rather tame transfer season before Jack Grealish’s £100 million move to Manchester City broke the English transfer record. The crowds that were in Paris to welcome Messi and who were chanting his name at intervals proved just how massive it truly was.
PSG became fortunate beneficiaries of a contractual mishap at Barcelona where Messi was fully expected to be re-signed for another two-year deal until La Liga’s financial restrictions threw a wrench in the works and the negotiations collapsed. It was the perfect circumstances for PSG to exploit and they did.
After getting the number 30 jersey and putting his signature on the papers, Messi told the club’s website words that so few thought were ever going to be heard from the Barca legend: “I am excited to begin a new chapter of my career at Paris Saint-Germain.
“Everything about the club matches my football ambitions. I know how talented the squad and the coaching staff are 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.”
The two-year deal in Paris comes with the option of a third year and is reported to be worth €35 million a year after tax to make the “little magician” a top earner in the squad, just above what reunited team-mate Neymar receives.
The delight was not only Messi’s. Nasser Al-Khelaifi, the chairman of the French club said about the signing: “I am delighted that Lionel Messi has chosen to join Paris Saint-Germain and we are proud to welcome him and his family to Paris.
“He has made no secret of his desire to continue competing at the very highest level and winning trophies, and naturally our ambition as a club is to do the same.
“The addition of Leo to our world class squad continues a very strategic and successful transfer window for the club. Led by our outstanding coach and his staff, I look forward to the team making history together for our fans all around the world.”
There will be a Press Conference on Wednesday to formalise the shock of the transfer season 2021 and the windfall that PSG has perfected with all the players they brought in while spending so little in the process.
Their smart business have seen them sign Sergio Ramos from Real Madrid, Georginio Wijnaldum from Liverpool, Gianluigi Donnarumma from AC Milan, on free transfers, while paying for Achraf Hakimi from Serie A winning side Inter Milan.
They will join Neymar who renewed his contract last year and Kylian Mbappe, if he chooses to stay, to challenge for everything in their path in the coming campaign.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
