Lionel Messi signs with P.S.G, launching new era

French newspaper L'Equipe reported Messi is due to arrive in Paris in the coming hours to complete his move to Paris Saint Germain.

FC Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi (photo credit: REUTERS)
FC Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi
(photo credit: REUTERS)

Lionel Messi has reached an agreement with Paris Saint Germain on Tuesday, as FC Barcelona made a last-ditch effort to keep the soccer star who is set to leave the Spanish club after 21 years, ESPN Argentina reported.

French newspaper L'Equipe reported on Sunday that the Argentine is in negotiations with soccer giants Paris St Germain and will travel to the French capital in the following 24 hours. On Tuesday, the French newspaper said on its website that Messi is due to arrive in Paris in the coming hours to complete his move.
Barcelona president Joan Laporte has offered Messi a new contract and the six-time Ballon D'or (Golden Ball) winner was considering his options, according to the reports. However, it seems as if Messi has made up his mind to move to the French capital.
Spanish media and Argentinian news outlet Olé have questioned the legitimacy of the report, with Spanish media suggesting the report is a PR stunt by president Laporte, who has come under scrutiny for allowing the Barcelona legend to leave.
In addition, a Barcelona member has filed complaints with a French court and the European Commission with the aim of blocking Lionel Messi's potential move to Paris St Germain, according to documents seen by Reuters on Monday.
In the complaints, shared by the fan's lawyer Juan Branco, the Barca member says French football authorities have failed to enforce financial fair play (FFP) rules in order to help PSG become a force in European football.
FFP rules forbid top European soccer clubs from paying their playing squads an excessive share of their total revenues, according to the member's complaints, which also state that the transfer of 34-year-old Argentine Messi to PSG would breach the code.
The EU executive confirmed receipt of the complaint. "The Commission is assessing the complaint under its standard procedures," a spokesperson said. PSG and France's professional soccer league LFP did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The PSG frontline is already formidable, with Messi's former Barca team mate Neymar and young France striker Kylian Mbappe seen as two of the best players on the planet.
But the arrival of Messi, Barca's all-time record goalscorer with 682 in 27 years, will boost the club's ambitions to win a first ever Champions League.

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The arrival of Messi, who has 245 million followers on Instagram and is Barcelona's most decorated player of all time, is also welcome news for France's Ligue 1, embroiled in a crisis over TV rights.