French club PSG affirm signing of Lionel Messi from Barcelona

Lionel Messi has signed a two-year contract with French powerhouse Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), with the option for a third year, after the Argentinian had to leave Barcelona because of the club’s financial difficulties.

“I am excited to begin a new chapter of my career at Paris Saint-Germain,” Messi said.

“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.”

PSG chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi said he was pleased that Messi had decided to join Paris Saint-Germain.

“We are proud to welcome him and his family to Paris,” he 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.”

Prior, Messi excited PSG supporters by waving to many reciting fans from the window of the Parisian airport where he landed on a flight from Barcelona on Tuesday evening (local time).

Messi, who wore a t-shirt reading “This is Paris”, enchanted the many fans fixed up external the terminal with the gesture.

Without expressly naming Messi, the French club shared a video on its Twitter account saying “new diamond” was showing up in Paris.

The video showed various references to Argentina and the star player, including the flag of the city of Rosario, Messi’s birthplace, a maté gourd with the Argentinian flag on it, a player wearing a number 10 Argentina jersey, and a graphic of six Ballon d’Or trophies before the Eiffel Tower.

Messi established himself as one of the best footballers ever during a sparkling, trophy-laden career at Barcelona, the club he joined as a student.

The six-time Ballon d’Or winner wept on Sunday as he bade goodbye to his boyhood team after the club said it could presently don’t stand to keep him in light of the Spanish league’s financial fair play rules.

At Ligue 1 club PSG, Messi will make an already formidable frontline even stronger.

Messi’s previous Barcelona partner Neymar added a story to his Instagram profile, stating “back together” over a video montage of them commending an objective together while playing for the Catalan goliaths.

Neymar and Messi will join with youthful France striker Kylian Mbappé to make perhaps the most capable assaulting units in world football.

Messi, Barcelona’s untouched record scorer with 672 objectives, will help the club’s aspirations to win a first historically speaking Champions League.

Messi is the most recent huge name landing in PSG on a free exchange this mid-year after Mauricio Pochettino’s side gobbled up Spanish safeguard Sergio Ramos after he left Real Madrid.

Dutch midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum additionally joined after running down his agreement with Liverpool.

PSG completed an unexpected second to Lille in Ligue 1 last season and arrived at the semi-finals of the Champions League.