By Jon Essien
After a ‘very hard’ end to an illustrious Barcelona career, Lionel Messi has revealed that his intention is to lift the Champions League again.
Messi received a hero’s welcome after flying to France yesterday to sign a two-year contract, with the option of a further year with Paris Saint-Germain. And the Argentine is expected to earn between €30-35 million ($35-41m) net a year, according to ESPN.
The 34-year-old was presented at the news conference at PSG’s Parc des Princes and his name was chorused amid a round of applause as he sat alongside club president Nasser al-Khelaifi.
“My exit from Barca was very hard, after so many years, but as soon as I arrived here I was so happy, so motivated, so excited. It has happened so fast, but I am enjoying it so much,” Messi said.
“My goal and my dream is to win the Champions League once more. I think that we have the team to do it here.
“The squad and coaches here are capable of winning everything, which is my objective. The team here is incredible. There have been some amazing signings. This will be an unbelievable experience for me. I do not know when I will first be able to play and I might need some preseason conditioning first. I really want to begin the training sessions; I really want it to be quick.”
Messi’s addition to an already formidable PSG formidable front line will undoubtedly prove a handful for defenders, and the six-time Ballon d’Or winner is relishing playing alongside the top two most expensive players –Neymar and Mbappe.
Messi said: “I am very happy. It’s crazy. I’m going to play with the best players in the world, and that’s always good.”
PSG have missed out on winning the champions league on several occasions, including 2017, when they failed to keep up with a Messi-Neymar inspired Barcelona despite taking a four-goal advantage in the first leg.
Interestingly, the duo are reunited in Parc des Princes and could figure a way around helping the club achieve this feat.
