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Lionel Messi officially joins PSG

Minute by minute, the latest news on Leo Messi's future
12.08.2021 01:35 of E.B. TransferMarketWeb   see readings
LIVE - Lionel Messi officially joins PSG
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AUGUST 11TH

A recap of what happened in the last days with a new video from PSG Official Twitter account:

How about this transfer market window for PSG?

AUGUST 10TH

Messi picks his new number and it is not Number 10....

22.37 CEST - Now it's official: Lionel Messi has found a new club. As Paris St. Germain announced, the Argentine will be doing magic in the city of love from now on. The 34-year-old is signing a contract with the French capital club until 2023. There is also an option for another season.

20:37 CEST - Lionel Messi has just arrived at the Le Royal Monceau hotel, where he will spend his first Parisian night and above all where he will soon sign the contract that will bind him to Paris Saint-Germain for the next two seasons (plus an optional one). The Argentine champion, waiting for the official announcement from the club, appeared from one of the balconies of the hotel to greet the cheering fans.

16:48 CEST - Lionel Messi's press conference will be held at 11am local time tomorrow, at the Parc des Princes.

The former Barcelona player arrived today in France after his painful departure from the blaugrana club.

15:50 CEST - The countdown begins for Lionel Messi’s arrival at Paris Saint-Germain. Through its social networks, the French club has published a sort of teaser to anticipate the arrival of the now former Barcelona striker. Here's the tweet:

07.50 CEST - RMC Sport report last night that Lionel Messi transfer to Paris Saint-Germain is not in jeopardy, despite the Argentine’s delay in arriving to France. Various reports had indicated that the former Barcelona man would arrive in Paris today to finalise his transfer, however, the six-time Ballon d’Or winner has remained in Catalonia.

Despite the gathering of PSG fans at Le Bourget airport throughout the afternoon, the club will have to wait at least another day before Messi’s arrival to wrap up the deal. Nevertheless, RMC Sport indicates that such delays are par for the course in deals of this magnitude, and that the 34-year-old will sign for Les Parisiens having reached an agreement in principle with the club.

The Copa América winner has decided to stay in Barcelona with his family until the deal is fully completed, with several details still left to iron out in his PSG contract.

07.35 CEST - As Lionel Messi move to PSG seemingly edges ever closer, with only a medical remaining – which is assumed to be a formality, RMC thoughts have turned to the commercial aspect of the deal. 

Of course, Messi will arrive as a free agent and without a transfer fee but he will also become PSG’s highest paid player and remain the world’s number one footballing earner as a €40m net yearly salary awaits in France. A figure that surpasses Neymar’s €36m annual pay.

With PSG, like the rest of France and world football, suffering in the wake of the financial struggles of the last 18 months, the club’s investment represents a sizeable outlay even for an institution with PSG’s mammoth backing after losses of €125m during the 2019/20 season alone and a reported deficit of between €250m and €300m.

However, Messi’s arrival could prove a significant financial boon for Paris as Grégoire Kopp, creator of GRK Impact & Comms, a management agency, told RMC:

“Lionel Messi was directly and indirectly responsible for 30% of Barça’s income. It’s very consistent. He opens up new markets.”

AUGUST 9TH

11.10 CEST - In these hours, writes the Mundo Deportivo, Leo Messi is expected in Paris to complete all the necessary formalities and kick off his new adventure at PSG. The hypothesis of a presentation tomorrow at the Eiffel Tower remains standing.

Once the contractual issues have been defined, La Pulga will be able to start training and according to estimation, it will take at least two weeks to reach an acceptable level of form. For this reason, predictions can already be made on his debut: the good date could be Sunday 29 August, when PSG will face Reims.

AUGUST 8TH

20.16 CEST - Barcelona have filed a complaint to the Paris Court of Appeals regarding Paris Saint-Germain's finances, with the intention of blocking Lionel Messi's move to the French capital, Marca claims.

Messi would command around €40 million (£34m/$47m) in wages, plus a potential signing on fee, and Barca's argument is that PSG would breach the rules of Financial Fair Play if they sign the Argentine.

12.46 CEST L’Équipe report that 34-year-old Argentine forward Lionel Messi will arrive in Paris today to conclude a free transfer from Barcelona to PSG.

A 2-year contract with the option to extend for a further 3rd has been agreed in principle between the PSG board and Jorge Messi. As reported by Get French Football News, the deal would see Messi earn €25m a year net, excluding bonuses, which is much less than the €40m a year net initially reported by French outlets in midweek.

The deal will however make Messi PSG’s highest paid player, with Neymar on around €22m a year net.

Messi is expected to undergo a PSG medical tonight or tomorrow morning.

12.13 CEST - Leo also reiterated that he doesn't want to leave Barcelona.

12.12 CEST - Messi confirmed that PSG is a possibility.

12.11 CEST - La Pulga can't hold back his tears during his press conference.

12.10 CEST - Messi: “I was convinced to stay here at Barcelona. This is my home, our home. I wanted to stay at Barça and it was the plan... and today I’ve to say goodbye after my entire life here”

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12.05 CEST - From Marca, President Joan Laporta spoke about the impossibility of renewing the Argentine's contract, blaming the situation on the club's previous board and their mismanagement of finances.

According to La Vanguardia, though, the failure to re-sign Messi was also due to the club's refusal to accept LaLiga's agreement with CVC, which Javier Tebas initially presented to Laporta over dinner on July 14.

The agreement secured 2.7 billion euros of investment into LaLiga, of which 15 percent could have been used towards signings and salaries. That would have allowed Barcelona to have 40 million euros more, meaning that they could have had Tebas' backing in signing and registering Messi.

As Laporta explained on Friday, though, he didn't want to mortgage the future of the club to ensure one player's continuity.

In their dispute since Thursday, Tebas revealed that he had dinner with Laporta in mid-July and explained the CVC agreement to him then, claiming that he had "an abundance of enthusiasm" about it then.

11.05 CEST - At the end of the friendly match won against Troyes, PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino analyzed the game. Here are his words, taken from Le Parisien :

"It was difficult. We did not start the game well, conceding a goal at the beginning. We have to do much better. It was a game in which we saw some good things and others not so good. We have given up too many chances for my tastes. Victory is important and we have to give credit to our opponent who has done so many things to upset us. "

Did Messi distract the team?

"The players are professionals. Everyone is on social media, we have access to all the information relating to Messi's departure from Barcelona. Everyone wants to know the rest. His name has been associated with several clubs, but the team has remained focused on the game. The players will stay focused until the transfer is over and we will see what happens. Every coach likes to train the best players and he is the best player today. "

AUGUST 7TH

23.35 CEST - For Lionel Messi's official transfer at PSG a few details are still missing, but according to Le Parisien, the French club has already communicated to the squad and the employees that the deal has arrived in port. Leo, who will earn between 35 and 40 million a year, is expected to be presented between Tuesday and Wednesday in style, at the Eiffel Tower, just like it did with Neymar. Messi is expected to carry out medical examinations in the hospital on the Parisian outskirts of Neully, and then stay in a luxury hotel in the Ville Lumiere. Le Parisien also "calculates" the possible first time for Messi in the PSG jersey: on 12 September, at the Parco dei Principi against Clermont.

22.03 CEST - Marca reports that Sergio Aguero is happy to remain at Barcelona despite seeing fellow Argentine Lionel Messi move on.

The former Manchester City star had been hoping to join an iconic countryman at Camp Nou, but he will not be pushing for an immediate exit after joining the Blaugrana club as a free agent.

18.42 CEST - Cesc Fabregas entrusts his thoughts on Lionel Messi to social media: "I will always remember the day you came to our locker room at 13 and we were told that an Argentine boy was on trial. You sat and didn't talk all the time. The coach told me in the one-on-one exercise to be strong against you. I saw you so small I thought I'd take the ball off in a second. How stupid, you left me on the ground and since then I've seen you were something different. My dream has always been to play in the first team at Barca, but doing it with you and with Geri (Pique, ed) has made the dream even more special. You leave as the best player of all themes and not. it will be more the same to see Barcelona without you. "

16.42 CEST - Ronald Koeman has described Lionel Messi’s Barcelona departure as “still hard to understand” as the Nou Camp club prepare to officially bid farewell to the superstar on Sunday.

It was announced on Thursday the six-time Ballon d’Or winner would not sign a new contract with his boyhood club, with president Joan Laporta saying a day later that the former regime at Barca in addition to La Liga spending rules had thwarted any hopes of the Argentinian staying in Catalonia.

Messi, who has been heavily linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain, had been set to remain at the Nou Camp but is now a free agent and the 34-year-old will hold a press conference on Sunday at 11am BST.

Reflecting on the shock news that Messi will be leaving, Barca boss Koeman said on Twitter: “Still hard to understand that you will not play for FC Barcelona anymore.

“Thanks for everything you have done for our club Leo. I really enjoyed the full season we worked together.

“I am impressed with your work ethic and desire to win. It makes you the best player in the world. For now, I wish you and your family the best!”, he said.

14.42 CEST - In tomorrow's press conference, Lionel Messi will greet the Barcelona fans. Marca makes it known that it was the Argentine who wanted to organize the meeting with the media, in order to say goodbye to the Blaugrana supporters and explain the reasons for his departure.

The Diez is very tired by the earthquake of the last few hours and will be accompanied by his family in the conference to receive the right support in a delicate moment.

12.20 CEST - Lionel Messi's farewell to Barcelona shocks Sergio Aguero. The Kun had chosen to dress the Blaugrana shirt for the only purpose of playing with his compatriot and friend, but now the situation changes.

From Catalonia here it comes sensational developments on the story: the former Manchester City star is even considering terminating the existing contract and his legal team is studying to find a way to cancel everything, according to TNT Sports. In this case, Barcelona risk a second catastrophe after Messi's farewell. Aguero was signed by Barcelona on 31 May under a two-season contract that includes a € 100m release clause.

Aguero is considered one of the best strikers of his generation and of the world, he is a record-holder for Manchester City ever (260) and in UEFA competition (43). With 184 goals he is the best foreign scorer (and fourth overall) in the history of the Premier League.

0.15 CEST - "It is official! Messi is a new PSG player". With a tweet Khalifah Bin Hamad Al Tahni, brother of the owner of PSG, has confirmed the deal is done.

AUGUST 6TH

7.00 PM CEST - News coming from France: according to what was reported by RMC Sport Lionel Messi would have chosen Paris Saint-Germain. This is for a two-year contract plus an option for a third season.

The French club aims to close the deal by the weekend and Lionel Messi's father is expected to meet with management in the next few hours.

4.00 PM CEST - Pep Guardiola has responded to talks of Lionel Messi moving to Manchester City after negotiations between the player and FC Barcelona broke down earlier yesterday. The Cityzens have just completed their record transfer of Jack Grealish in a blockbuster move. 

Speaking to the press, Pep said: "We spent £40m on Jack Grealish. We paid £100m and brought in £60m. He will wear the No.10 because we were convinced with Grealish and we were convinced Leo would continue at Barcelona, so right now he is not in our thoughts."

Guardiola praised the role Messi played in propelling him and his Barca team to unprecedented glory. He said: “As a fan, I have incredible gratitude for the most extraordinary player I have seen in my life, for the titles he helped win for Barcelona.”

The duo won all there is to win on the club stage throughout their time together in Barcelona.

11.11 CEST - Barça president Laporta: “Leo Messi is NOT happy".

11.05 CEST - "We can’t register the contract of Leo Messi that was agreed because of Financial Fair Play rules".

9.31 CEST - Though everything was pointing to Barcelona FC chairman, Joan Laporta, having talked 34-year old Argentinian star forward Leo Messi into staying put into Blaugrana ranks, the six-time Ballon d'Or winner eventually decided to end it, and start anew somewhere else.

To this end, Paris might end up being the next stop for La Pulga. Messi was previously linked to reunite with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, but Premier League defending champions have just invested a 3-digit million pounds amount into signing Jack Grealish from Aston Villa, and are trying to seal the deal with Tottenham, on a further 3-digit trade, over Harry Kane, making Messi's oven in rather less viable.

Besides, Paris Saint-Germain, according to El Chiringuito and Barcelona-born pundit Josep Pedrerol, are actually in talks with the player himself and his entourage. Dismissing the notion of fetching Cristiano Ronaldo from Juventus, Ligue 1 giants are now looking adamant with composing a one-of-a-kind frontline trio, siding Messi to both Neymar Junior and Kylian Mbappé, though the latter one might still be handed out to Real Madrid.

23.25 CEST - Barcelona and Messi: The reasons for the split
Today will go down in history at FC Barcelona - as a sad chapter. Because Lionel Messi has decided to turn his back on the Blaugrana. Actually, Barca agreed with his superstar. And Messi was even willing to forego 50 percent of his salary. But the wage cap imposed by the league caused problems. Especially since there was no buyer for other top earners like Antoine Griezmann. But there were also other reasons for the separation.

Messi should still not have been particularly happy with the sporting perspective. Although Sergio Aguero, a friend, and colleague from the national team, was brought on board, La Pulga's other wish was not fulfilled, as he wanted Atalanta's Romero to join the blaugrana

21.12 CEST - Barcelona say bye to Leo Messi: the tribute video is amazing..

20.59 CEST - One of the side story about Messi not signing the contract is the following and we will hear about it:

19.52 CEST - Barcelona officially announced that Lionel Messi will not play for the club this upcoming season. The Catalans announced: "Even though both parties had reached an agreement with the clear will to continue together, we won't be able to formalize it due to structural and economic obstacles. Because of this, Lionel Messi will not remain tied to FC Barcelona. We are both very dismayed that the player's wishes could not be satisfied. Barca thanks Messi for his contributions and wishes him the best for the future"

19.13 CEST - Contract talks between Lionel Messi and the club have ‘reached a point of no return’ (multiple reports).

Talks between the Argentine superstar and Barcelona have been ongoing for some time, though as of yet the two parties have been unable to reach a compromise.

The report adds that representatives of the player and club chiefs met on Thursday to try and reach an agreement over the Barcelona captain's future, though talks have subsequently broken down and Messi is now certain to move on.