New Paris Saint-Germain member Lionel Messi (center) poses at a press conference with club president Naser Al-Kelafi (left) and sports director Leonard.
Sarah Meyssonnier, Reuters
“I’m glad to be here. The club is set to win trophies and that’s my goal. I want to keep growing, improving and winning. I believe that we will succeed together and fulfill all the club’s goals,” said Messi. “I wanted to have a strong team that has a chance to win the Champions League and this is the perfect place. I love winning, I want to score important goals,” he added.
Next to the club’s president, Nasir Al Chelajfí, described Messi’s arrival as a historic moment for “club and football”. “Everyone knows Leo. He’s the only player to have won the Golden Ball six times, he’s a football magician and a winner. When we came to this club ten years ago, people asked us what we were planning. I’m very happy with what we’ve done now. “Al Chelafi said.
Messi waved to the fans from the Paris airport window
Reuters
Messi reiterated that leaving Barcelona after 21 years was not easy for him. The captain of the Argentine national team, considered one of the best footballers in history, played 778 competitive matches in the Catalan big club and with 672 goals is by far his best scorer. Among other things, he won the Champions League four times and the Spanish League ten times with “Barca”.
Earnings for Messi? Almost 900 million a year
He did not extend the contract in the team, because Barcelona could not afford it due to the rules of financial fair play of the Spanish league. Messi came to PSG as a free agent and should earn about 35 million euros a year (about 890 million crowns). He signed a two-year contract with an option.
“It was a huge change. Everything that happened last week was really challenging, fast and emotional. I still can’t believe what I went through in Barcelona. I’ve been there practically since I was a child,” he recalled. “But since I came to Paris, I feel happy here and I want to start training and playing as soon as possible. I’ve been enjoying it since the first minute and I’m ready to start a new chapter in my life,” Messi said, appreciating the quick and correct negotiations with PSG.
After leaving Barcelona, Messi signed a contract in Paris Saint-Germain
In Paris, where he arrived with his family and three sons, he was greeted by thousands of fans in front of the stadium. “I’m grateful to see so many people on the streets. I was in Barcelona when journalists told me about it. It will be an incredible year and we will enjoy it,” Messi smiled. In the new team, he will have the number 30 on the jersey, which he started in Barcelona. He left his traditional ten to Brazilian Neymar.
Al Chelajfí believes that after Messi’s arrival, another star, Kylian Mbappé, who will be interested in a number of European clubs, led by Real Madrid, will remain. In addition to Mbappé, Messi will meet Neymar on the field. He doesn’t know yet when he will start the first match in the new jersey.
Argentine footballer Lionel Messi will play for PSG.
Sport.cz/Albert Gea – Reuters
“I’ve had a vacation so far, so I have no idea. I talked to the coaches yesterday and I’ll need some time to prepare. I’ll start training and hope to be ready as soon as possible. When the coaches say it’s time, I’ll go for it,” he said.
According to him, it would be spicy if he came across Barcelona in the future. “It would be very nice to go back there and I believe it would take place with the fans in the auditorium. It would probably be very strange to play there in a different jersey, but of course it can happen,” Messi added.
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