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Lionel Messi spoke at his first press conference as a Paris Saint-Germain player on Wednesday and said that after a “very difficult” end to his career at Barcelona, his goal is to win the League again champions.
PSG announced Messi’s arrival on Tuesday with the former Barcelona player signing a two-year contract, with the option of an additional year. Sources told ESPN’s Julien Laurens that Messi is expected to earn between € 30m and 35m ($ 35m to $ 41m) net per year.
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Messi was introduced at the press conference at PSG’s Parc des Princes and his name was chanted to applause as he took his seat alongside club president Nasser al-Khelaifi.
He spoke of his desire to win the Champions League for the fifth time, the end of his Camp Nou career and his enthusiasm to play alongside teammates Kylian Mbappe and Neymar.
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Julien Laurens talks about the unveiling of Lionel Messi as a PSG player and explains how Messi could finally bring a Champions League title to Paris.
“My exit from Barca was very difficult, after so many years, but as soon as I arrived here I was so happy, so motivated, so excited. It happened so quickly, but I appreciate it so much” , said Messi.
“My goal and my dream is to win the Champions League again. I think we have the team to do it here.
“The team and the coaches here are able to win anything, which is my goal. The team here is amazing. There have been some incredible signings. It will be an amazing experience for me. I don’t know when I can. for the first time playing and maybe I need a little preparation before the season. I really want to start the training sessions, I really want it to be fast. “
About his team-mates Neymar and Mbappe – the two most expensive players in history with € 222m and € 180m respectively – Messi said: “I’m very happy. It’s crazy. playing with the best players in the world, and it’s always good. “
Wednesday’s press conference was moved from its original Tuesday slot as the club needed more time to deal with logistics, given global media interest in the transfer of the six-time Balloon winner. ‘Gold.
Messi spoke at his Barcelona farewell press conference on Sunday and said PSG were an option and, speaking on Wednesday, thanked the new club for the speed with which negotiations were concluded. The Argentina international, who won the Copa America with his country this summer, has also raised the possibility of facing his former club in the Champions League this season.
0:38
Ale Moreno joins SportsCenter to explain that only a Champions League trophy now counts as a success for PSG.
“I am very grateful that such complicated negotiations have been made so easy,” he said. “I left Barcelona without knowing where I was going. It has been a hard, fast and moving week. But I am excited about this new step for my career and my family.
“[PSG] had positioned themselves from the first day, even if it was not easy in these conditions. I would like to thank the club for the work accomplished and the welcome I had.
“The Barca fans knew I would join a good club, fighting for the Champions League, because they know me, I love to win, I am a winner and I want to keep doing it.
“I have no doubt that the goals of PSG are to win and grow. It would be good on the one hand to face them in the Champions League, especially with the fans, but on the other hand strange to come home in the jersey from another team – but that’s football. “
Messi moved to Paris after Barcelona failed to register his five-year Camp Nou contract due to financial complications surrounding La Liga salary rules. The deal proposed by Messi meant Barcelona’s payroll was 110% of their income, well above the 70% limit. Their spending cap with La Liga fell from over € 600m in 2019-2020 to € 200m expected in the coming season, making it impossible to register Messi’s new deal, even with a decrease in salary. His previous terms included a base salary of around 70 million euros gross without bonus.
“I speak from the bottom of my heart. Thank you all for making this possible. Bringing the best player in the world here. The hard work begins now,” Al-Khelaifi said.
“It’s an amazing and historic day for the club and the football world. Leo makes football magical, beautiful … he’s a winner. It’s no secret there was a great desire [between PSG and Messi] for that to happen.
“We have someone here next to me, he has won a lot of trophies and I’m sure he will bring a lot of trophies to the club, with his team, with his teammates, the best players in the world and an amazing coach, for me he’s the best in the world. “
Al-Khelaifi was also asked about Mbappe’s future and the financial fair play ramifications of Messi’s transfer to PSG. Mbappe’s contract with PSG is due to expire in 2022.
“I was waiting for this question,” Al-Khelaifi said. “We have always respected financial fair play. We checked with our finance officers and knew we could sign it. What the media needs to focus on is not just the negative but also the positive that he will bring.
“I think we have the most competitive team. Now Kylian has no choice but to stay here in Paris.”
Al-Khelaifi said people would be “shocked” at the financial income Messi would bring to the club, although he joked: “I hope Leo doesn’t ask for more pay.”
Messi has scored a record 672 goals in 778 appearances for Barca, winning 10 La Liga titles, the Copa del Rey seven times, the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup three times each and the Champions League four times.
In July, he also won his first major international honor by helping Argentina win the Copa America.
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