Paris Saint-Germain have officially completed the signing of Lionel Messi, who has signed a two year deal days after the greatest of shock exits from Barcelona.
The move sees Messi link up once again with Brazil international Neymar, with the pair having enjoyed huge success together up until the latter’s world-record £200 million transfer to Paris in 2017.
Lionel Messi Signs for Paris Saint-Germain
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) August 10, 2021
French Club Able to Conform to Financial Fair Play Rules
Following Barcelona’s announcement that Messi would be unable to sign a new deal with the La Liga giants, PSG were immediately touted as the only realistic destination for the six-time Ballon d’Or winner.
The Ligue 1 club were in direct contact with Messi’s camp in the hours after his departure from Barcelona was confirmed, and have since been able to put together a proposal enticing enough to attract the Argentina captain’s signature.
The question of how PSG have been able to add Messi to their star-studded first-team squad without breaking Financial Fair Play rules has been asked in some quarters. The key to answering it lies in their apparent mastery of the free transfer in this summer’s window.
In addition to Messi, PSG have brought in goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, defender Sergio Ramos and midfielder Giorginio Wijnaldum on free transfers this summer. Their comparative lack of spending in order to buy players has enabled them to cover Messi’s reported Salary of around €35 million net per season.
Indeed, the only direct transfer fees PSG have shelled out so far have been to bring in defensive midfielder Danilo Pereira from Porto for €16 million, as well as the €60 million capture of right-back Achraf Hakimi from Inter Milan.
How PSG Could Line Up With Messi
Manager Mauricio Pochettino has an array of world class attacking talent to choose from in his PSG side, with the likes of Angel Di Maria, Mauro Icardi and Kylian Mbappé all members of an expensively-assembled squad.
In the starting 11, Argentina striker Icardi appears the most likely to be relegated to the substitutes’ bench, allowing Mbappé to occupy the lone striker’s spot in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
That would enable Messi to play in the number 10 role, flanked by Neymar on the left and Di Maria on the right. Such a line-up would strike fear into opposing defences all over Europe as Pochettino aims to win back the Ligue 1 title and lead PSG to a first-ever Champions League triumph.
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