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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Mark Taylor

Lionel Messi given standing ovation by PSG fans - but Kylian Mbappe booed amid contract saga

Lionel Messi was given a brilliant reception as he was unveiled as a PSG player to a packed Parc des Princes on Saturday night.

But Kylian Mbappe was booed by the home fans as his name was announced in the Ligue 1 side's first home match.

PSG beat Strasbourg 4-2 in their second game of the season as they look to avenge what turned out to be a disappointing term last time out as Lille pipped them to the title.

The Parisiens have strengthened incredibly well this term, bringing in the likes of Gianluigi Donnarumma, Sergio Ramos and Georginio Wijnaldum all on free transfers.

But their biggest signing of the summer came last week as Lionel Messi completed a swift move after his heartbreaking departure from Barcelona.

The Argentine has not long returned from international duty at the Copa America over the summer so is not yet available to play, and watched from the stands alongside Neymar.

But Messi was officially unveiled along with all of PSG's other new signings in a presentation ahead of the game with Strasbourg.

Can Messi lead PSG to Champions League? Have your say in the comments below

The man often regarded as the greatest to ever play the game received an understandably warm welcome from the home fans.

Most inside the Parc des Princes were standing as Messi walked out and onto a raised platform ahead of the game along with the other new boys in the French capital.

However, it was not such a welcome return for France striker Mbappe, who clearly is not in the good books of PSG supporters after talk of a potential exit this summer.

Messi is not yet available to play for PSG (Getty Images)

The 22-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season, and does not appear to be close to agreeing a new deal with the club.

That means he could leave on a free transfer next year, and talk of a move to Real Madrid has been ripe.

The rest of Ligue 1 have not been so welcoming to the former Barcelona man’s arrival.

Current Marseille manager Jorge Sampaoli is one of the recent managers to highlight his dismay at the Parisian side’s spending power.

“These days power is stronger than justice, and [Messi’s] arrival increases this disparity. Everyone will watch Ligue 1, but it also generates a great difference in power which moves us away from justice," Sampaoli SAID to RMC sport.

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