Lionel Messi stated he’s “in the right place” to win one other Champions League trophy and cited the reunion with Neymar as a key consider his choice to signal with Paris Saint-Germain.
The 34-year-old Argentine star spoke at his introductory information convention on the Parc des Princes stadium on Wednesday morning after signing a two-year take care of a third-season substitute after leaving Barcelona.
“My goal and dream is to get another Champions (League trophy) and I believe that I am in the right place to get the best chances to achieve it,” Messi stated.
“When you see this team, you really want to play with them because there are so many possibilities,” he stated. “We have the same goal. And Neymar certainly did a lot and was important to my choice.”
Qatar-backed PSG are determined to win the Champions League after they misplaced the 2020 closing to Bayern Munich. Messi helped Barcelona win 4 Champions League trophies.
The arrival of Messi provides PSG aggressive attacking choices as he hyperlinks up with not solely Neymar – his former teammate at Barcelona – but in addition France World Cup winner Kylian Mbappe.
“I’m going to play with the best players, it’s great, it’s incredible to be able to experience it,” stated Messi, who additionally cited Argentine teammates and PSG gamers Angel Di Maria and Leandro Paredes.
“Obviously, one of the reasons (I came) was the locker room: Neymar, Di Maria, Paredes, whom I know.”
Messi stated he’s “ready” to begin enjoying with PSG, which host Strasbourg on Saturday evening.
“When I feel it, when the staff thinks I’m fine, I’ll be ready. I’m ready to play,” he stated.
Messi turned probably the most high-profile free agent in soccer historical past after his efforts to remain at Barcelona had been rejected by the Spanish league final week as a result of salaries wouldn’t adjust to monetary guidelines, with the Catalan membership going through greater than 1.2 billion euros in debt. was buried below the burden. ($1.4 billion).
PSG moved rapidly to signal the Argentine star. The workforce, Messi stated, “positioned themselves and everything went really fast and it was easy. It happened in a short amount of time. It was a tough situation and they were efficient.”
PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino contacted his Argentine teammate when Barcelona introduced final Thursday that Messi would go away the membership he joined as a 13-year-old boy.
Messi received each main honor with Barcelona and was given a tearful exit information convention on Sunday to sign the tip of an period. In the present period, solely Cristiano Ronaldo challenges Messi’s standing as the best of all time.
While PSG needed to pay 222 million euros (then $261 million) to signal Neymar from Barcelona in 2017, there was no switch price for Messi.
No wage particulars got, however an individual with data of the negotiations beforehand instructed The Associated Press that Messi is about to make round 35 million euros ($41 million) yearly. The individual spoke on situation of anonymity earlier than signing the contract.
PSG can be hoping that not solely will Messi assist the workforce regain the French title they misplaced to Lille final season but in addition win the Champions League ultimately.
Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaiyi praised “a historic day for the club, the world of football and it’s a wonderful moment for us.”
“Everyone knows Leo … He makes football magic, beautiful and he is the winner. It will be very exciting for our supporters and fans around the world.” “We have big ambitions.”
Messi stated it was “very difficult” to go away Barcelona in spite of everything these years, however added that “the moment I got here, I was very happy.”
PSG supporters have seen their membership change over the previous decade for the reason that inflow of Qatari sovereign wealth investments involving the emir. Once Messi’s Barcelona contract expired – and the Catalan membership was unable to maintain him – PSG had been one of many few golf equipment that might finance a deal to signal the six-time world participant of the yr.
Messi will put on the No. 30 jersey – the identical quantity he wore in his first two seasons with Barcelona, ​​earlier than transferring to No. 19 after which the prized No. 10, which Neymar will get to maintain at PSG.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
