Following his departure from FC Barcelona, Lionel Messi has signed a two-year contract with French giants Paris Saint-Germain. Messi, the 34-year-old Argentine forward who recently bid a tearful farewell to Nou Camp, where he spent 21 years of his life, has the option of extending his contract for a third year. Messi’s financial terms were not disclosed, but it is expected that he will earn $41 million per year.
“I am excited to begin a new chapter of my career at Paris Saint-Germain. Everything about the club matches my football ambitions,” Messi said Tuesday in a statement. “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 president Nasser al-Khelaifi was ecstatic to welcome Messi to the club: “I am ecstatic that Lionel Messi has decided to join Paris St-Germain, and we are delighted to welcome him and his family to Paris.”
“He did not hide his desire to continue to evolve at the highest level and to win trophies. The ambition of the club is of course identical. The addition of Leo to our world-class team confirms the relevance and success of our recruitment. Together with our great coach and his staff, I look forward to seeing our team make history for all of our supporters around the world.”
Messi joins PSG as the club’s fourth free agent this summer, following Gianluigi Donnarumma of Italy, Georginio Wijnaldum of the Netherlands, and Sergio Ramos of Spain. Messi will be joined by Neymar of Brazil and Kylian Mbappe of France to form a formidable forward attack for the club.
Last year, Messi expressed his desire to leave Barcelona, but said in a tearful press conference that things had changed in the last year and that he was eager to stay with the club. However, due to the Catalan club’s financial difficulties, Barcelona had no choice but to let Messi go, despite the 34-year-old agreeing to a 50% reduction in his fee.
