Lionel Messi ‘has chosen to join PSG and will sign with the French giants on a two-year deal THIS WEEKEND as his father and agent Jorge prepares to finalise the deal’ after six-time Ballon d’Or winner’s shock departure from Barcelona
- Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly set to sign icon Lionel Messi this weekend
- Messi’s father, Jorge, is said to be on the brink of sealing the deal with the club
- Legend Messi is thought to have dealt directly with boss Mauricio Pochettino
- Club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has led talks to land Messi, reports suggest
Paris Saint-Germain are on the brink of signing Barcelona legend Lionel Messi after he chose to join the French giants following his seismic departure from his boyhood club, according to reports.
Six-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi was said to have personally contacted PSG boss Mauricio Pochettino following the bombshell announcement on Thursday evening that he would be leaving Barca, and accounts now claim that the Ligue 1 heavyweights could complete the signing this weekend.
Messi is ready to sign an initial deal two-year deal with the option of a third, RMC Sport has said.
Mauricio Pochettino (left) is said to have moved closer to signing countryman Lionel Messi
Nasser Al-Khelaifi (left) could lead a deal to potentially unite Messi with Kylian Mbappe (right)
Nasser Al-Khelaifi, the president of the heavily-bankrolled 2020 Champions League finalists, is leading the talks, according to The Athletic.
Friend and fellow South American superstar Neymar, who is said to have spoken to Messi days before the shock news of his exit from Barca, could play a crucial role in a the Argentina captain’s final decision.
PSG playmaker Neymar posed for photos with Messi after Argentina beat Brazil in the Copa America final last month and is even rumoured to have offered his international rival his number 10 shirt at the Parc des Princes.
Former Argentina defender Pochettino remained tight-lipped when he was asked about Messi in a press conference on Friday, insisting that his side are concentrating on their top-flight opener at Troyes on Saturday.
Ahead of his first full season in charge, Pochettino admitted that PSG are working ‘in a discreet way’ to ‘improve the team in whichever way possible’.
PSG and Brazil star Neymar could also be a key player in attracting Messi to the French giants
Neymar played with Messi at Barcelona and is still in contact with his Copa America nemesis
Pochettino said: ‘I have not spoken with [Messi]. And [any move] would not mean that Kylian would leave.
‘A player of Messi’s calibre, that is what is interesting to me. The club are working on several options, but we must focus on the game with Troyes [on Saturday].
‘In terms of Lionel Messi, we know what happened yesterday. I will not say anything different to that.
‘We are fully focused on beating Troyes and starting the season well. At the same time, our sporting director [Leonardo] and president are working hard to improve the team.’
PSG are said to be aware that Messi and his representative – father Jorge – have been studying other options, with his former boss at Barcelona, Pep Guardiola, persistently linked with a move to take him to Manchester City.
City are keen to replace striker Sergio Aguero and are thought to be frontrunners to sign Tottenham talisman Harry Kane, while Pochettino could create a formidable forward line by uniting Messi with Neymar and France hitman Kylian Mbappe, whose contract at the club expires next year.
