Lionel Messi officially signs with PSG
Lionel Messi attends a press conference Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021 at the Parc des Princes
stadium in Paris. Lionel Messi said he’s been enjoying his time in Paris “since the fi rst minute”
after he signed his Paris Saint-Germain contract on Tuesday night. The 34-year-old
Argentina star signed a two-year deal with the option for a third season after leaving Barcelona.
Associated Press/Francois Mori
Caribbean Life, AUGUST 20-26, 2021 47
By Nelson A. King
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG)
have completed the sensational
free-agent signing of Lionel Messi
after his Barcelona exit on a deal
through 2023, the Ligue 1 giants
confirmed Tuesday.
CBS Sports said the 34-yearold
arrives at Parc des Princes on a
two-year contract with an option
for one more after a “glittering
career: with Barca, which has
seen him win four UEFA Champions
League, 10 La Liga, seven
Copa del Rey and three FIFA Club
World Cup titles as part of a total
haul of 34 trophies.
“I am excited to begin a new
chapter of my career at Paris
Saint-Germain,” said Messi said
in a statement. “Everything
about the club matches my football
ambitions.
“I know how talented the squad
and the coaching staff are here,”
he added. “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.”
Messi arrived in Paris on Tuesday,
and PSG announced his
signing with a video, CBS Sports
said.
It said Messi also led Argentina
to this summer’s Copa America
and has won the Ballon d’Or
six times in total — the same
number as his European Golden
Shoe titles, with countless other
individual accolades.
Messi will reunite with Neymar
in Paris after the Brazilian
superstar left Barca for PSG back
in 2017, CBS Sports said.
It said fellow Argentina internationals
Angel Di Maria, Leandro
Paredes and Mauro Icardi are
also part of Mauricio Pochettino’s
squad, along with great former
rival Sergio Ramos after his Real
Madrid exit.
“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,” PSG chairman Nasser
Al-Khelaifi said. “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,” he
added. “Led by our outstanding
coach and his staff, I look forward
to the team making history
together for our fans all around
the world.”
Messi, who will wear the No.
30 in the French capital, will
now team up with the likes of
Kylian Mbappe, Marco Verratti
and Achraf Hakimi to launch an
assault on the Champions League
title after PSG fell short in the
semifinals in 2021 and the final
in 2020, CBS Sports said.
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