Lionel Messi moved ever closer to sealing his shock exit from FC Barcelona with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) preparing to offer the Argentina captain a three-year deal to transfer to the French capital.
Negotiations between the two parties ratcheted up following Barcelona's stunning announcement on Thursday evening that Messi would be leaving the Catalan giants due to financial and structural obstacles.
Messi leaves Barcelona after contract dispute
Messi became a free agent after his previous deal with Barcelona that was worth a whopping €500 million ran out at the end of June. He had been expected to sign a new five-year contract with Barca with reports suggesting that Messi will take a salary reduction of 50 percent to help the Spanish giants in their financial problems.
It appears that was not enough for Barcelona to register Messi's new contract with La Liga as they continued to struggle with the league's financial fair play rules. Barcelona president Joan Laporta explained further the team's decision regarding Messi on Friday, saying that no one is bigger than the club and they have a limit when it comes to player salaries.
Money is not a problem for PSG whose owner, Nassel Al-Khalaifi, is dripping with cash. The chairman of Qatar Sports Investments has an estimated net worth of $8 billion, helping transform PSG into one of the current giants in world football.
Sources have told ESPN that PSG's representatives reached out to Messi on Thursday after the bombshell announcement was made by Barcelona. Among those involved in the negotiations were Al Khelaifi, PSG sporting director Leonardo and Messi's father Jorge.
PSG manager Mauricio Pocchetino confirmed the talks in a press conference ahead of their opening game of the Ligue 1 season, saying that signing Messi is a possibility and that "the club is working on it."
Related Article: Lionel Messi To Leave FC Barcelona: Club Announces Shock Exit After Contract Dispute With La Liga
Messi signing to boost PSG's Champions League title hopes
Signing Messi will further bolster a PSG side that already has two of the best players in the world in Kylian Mbappe and Neymar. Messi and Neymar teamed up before in Barcelona, winning two La Liga crowns, three Copa del Rey titles, one FIFA World Club Cup and one Champions League trophy together from 2013-2017.
The Champions League trophy is the one silverware missing from PSG's illustrious trophy cabinet and the Qatari owners expect Messi to deliver that coveted European title once he joins the club.
PSG has come close to winning that title the past two years, losing the finals to Bayern Munich in 2020 and bowing out in the semifinals against Manchester City this year. Messi had led FC Barcelona to four Champions League titles in his career, capturing the European crown in 2006, 2009, 2011 and 2015.
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