Fans are waiting for Lionel Messi – so far in vain. / Picture: APA / AFP / GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT
Lionel Messi caused a stir in Paris and the surrounding area on Monday, but kept the supporters waiting. Hundreds of fans waited in front of Le Bourget Airport, a small airport near the French capital, on Sunday evening. They started chants and chants, but their new hero in a team that is then looking for their equals on the planet has not yet come. The newspaper “Le Parisien” even set up a Messi live ticker – initially in vain.
On Monday evening it was said: Messi will not come yet. There is still no “complete agreement” between the Argentine and PSG, wrote “Le Parisien” in the end. The French broadcaster Canal + reported that the performance was postponed by at least one day. Messi is at home and is checking the contract, said “Mundo Deportivo” from Spain. Videos circulated on the Internet that were supposed to show him in swimming trunks on his property on Monday. Also in Castelldefels near Barcelona fans were waiting for an appearance.
The sports newspaper “L'Equipe” already featured Messi on the front page in a photo montage in front of the Eiffel Tower with an aerobatic team – this was, however, in honor of the Olympic Games, which were handed over to Paris on Sunday. They will take place on the Seine in 2024. Messi could also be in Paris by the end of June 2024, it was reported.
PSG as “a possibility”
Negotiations are said to have already taken place on Friday, one day after the involuntary departure from FC Barcelona became known. On Sunday, when Messi himself gave his highly emotional farewell press conference at Camp Nou, it should have been about details, “of which there are many,” as the Argentine newspaper “Ole” knew. According to the Sportblatt, he should earn a total of 120 million euros net in the 36 months, which would be far below what he had recently conceded at the highly indebted FC Barcelona.
The 34-year-old Argentinian described PSG as “a possibility” on Sunday. He had to leave Barcelona against his will after 21 years because the highly indebted club would not have been able to comply with the rules of financial fair play of the Spanish league if they had continued to work.
Is the signature “imminent”?
The signing of the PSG contract is “imminent”, the broadcaster RMC Sport wrote on Monday and was already considering when the six-time world footballer could make his debut in PSG's dress. Everything indicates that that won't happen until September, said RMC Sport after Messi last vacationed with his family after winning the Copa America with Argentina in Miami and Ibiza.
For the Ligue 1 spectators it will soon become a reality, for the defenders a nightmare, wrote “L'Equipe”, but also asked about Messi's form when he is 34 years old and over 900 games in 17 professional years – all for the FC Barcelona – would arrive at PSG. “Not finished yet,” was the final verdict of the paper, which also devoted a page to the Argentine only with his successes and praised Messi as a “legend of the century”.
“Doors are always open at Barca”
Meanwhile, Barcelona president Joan Laporta raised hopes that the superstar might come back at some point. “The doors of Barca are always open to you. Thanks for everything, Leo!” Laporta wrote on social media on Sunday evening. “I wish you and your family all the best.”
In Barcelona, however, a lawyer tried on behalf of the members of FC Barcelona to prevent Messi's departure to Paris. Juan Branco filed a complaint with the European Commission against the upcoming move. Branco argued that PSG were even worse off than Barcelona in terms of UEFA's financial fair play, so the transfer should not be approved. The European Commission confirmed that it would use the standard procedure to investigate the complaint. However, the chances of success are likely to be slim.
