Gianluigi Donnarumma has dropped a huge hint Lionel Messi is on the verge of joining Paris Saint-Germain after admitting he thinks the forward will be signing for the club "soon".
PSG have launched a bid for the six-time Ballon d'Or winner, tabling a two-year contract offer with the option for a further year.
Messi is in line for a €25million signing on fee, as well as an annual salary equalling that amount if he chooses to complete a switch to the Parc des Princes.
But more importantly for the 34-year-old, a move to PSG would give him a real chance of winning the Champions League again before he retires, following the club's impressive work in the transfer market this summer.
Already, PSG boss Mauricio Pochettino has brought in Donnarumma, Sergio Ramos and Georginio Wijnaldum on free transfers, as well as shelling out £71m for Achraf Hakimi.
Adding Messi to the group is a real enticing prospect for Pochettino's side, and according to Donnarumma, a deal is seemingly almost over the line.
“It’s not official yet, but I think it will be soon. I am delighted that he is coming here," the Italian goalkeeper told TuttoMercatoWeb.
"He is great; the best in the world. I am excited and happy at the thought of having him on the team.
"It’ll be an honour to play with him.”
Messi's move to PSG has hardly come as a surprise once his exit from Barcelona had been confirmed.
The Qatari-backed club were one of only two realistic contenders for his signature - along with Manchester City.
He was even seen meeting up with several PSG stars, including ex-Barca teammate Neymar on holiday recently, though stressed it was purely coincidence.
However, Messi has held talks with Pochettino over the prospect of linking up with his compatriot at PSG, and conceded he may well end up there.
“That is one possibility, to reach those heights," Messi said when asked about his next move on Sunday.
“I’ve got nothing confirmed with anybody. I had a lot of calls, a lot of interested clubs. At the moment, nothing is closed, but we are talking about a lot of things.”
Meanwhile, Barcelona's fans have vented their frustrations at Messi's departure on the players still cashing in big paycheques at the club.
Even despite agreeing to a new contract with a 50% pay cut, Barca were still not able to afford Messi as La Liga blocked them from registering him as a player for next season.
Now the likes of Antoine Griezmann, Philippe Coutinho, Miralem Pjanic and Samuel Umtiti are facing the backlash, as they were whistled by Barca supporters during their Joan Gamper trophy win over Juventus on Sunday.
Umtiti appeared to bear the brunt of the jeers, and posted a cryptic message on social media after refusing to join in with the post-match celebrations.
For Messi, he now has an opportunity to seek a new challenge, but there is little denying the fact it is against his wishes.
"I don't want to leave this club - it's a club I love and this is a moment I didn't expect," he said in an emotional speech during his farewell press conference.
"Last year I wanted to leave, this year I wanted to stay. That's why I'm so sad.
"It was like my blood ran cold. I was really sad. It was really difficult right up to now. I'm still trying to process it all.
"When I get home I will still feel bad; it will be even worse. I'm not ready for this."
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