Lionel Messi's agreement of a two-year contract with the option of a third at Paris Saint-Germain has maintained his status as one of the highest-paid sports stars on the planet.
The Argentinean superstar arrived in Paris to a rapturous ovation on Tuesday, just five days on from walking out on Barcelona following the expiration of his contract.
Messi was greeted by adoring fans at Bourget Airport as he stepped off the plane ready to sign for French giants.
He had hoped to stay at Barcelona despite the expiration of his deal, but the club's financial mismanagement and failure to adhere to financial fair play regulations meant that they couldn't hold onto him.
His new deal at PSG will earn him a basic salary of some £29.6million a year, and that's before bonuses are taken into account.
Messi will be expected to lead PSG toward winning the Champions League for the very first time, and he will link up with former Barca teammate Neymar in the French capital.
The 34-year-old star's entourage, led by his father Jorge, had been in talks with PSG since late last week, with the deal wrapped up quickly due to the desires of all parties.
Messi confirmed his departure from Barca at a tear-filled press conference on Sunday.
“This year, my family and I were convinced we were going to stay at home, that’s what we all wanted more than anything,” he said.
“We’d always made this our own, we were at home. We thought we would be staying here in Barcelona. But today, we have to say goodbye to all of this.
“I did everything possible and the club, (president Joan) Laporta, they couldn’t do it because of La Liga.
“I’ve heard things said about me, that I didn’t want to continue, but on my life, we did everything we could because I wanted to stay.
“Last year, I didn’t want to stay and I said it; this year, I wanted to stay and we couldn’t.”
Laporta had said on Friday: "I can't make a decision that will affect the club for 50 years.
"The club is over 100 years old and it's above everyone and everything, even above the best player of the world. We will always thank him for everything he's done for us.
"In order to have fair play, we need to do this or make an effort which would put the club at risk. We couldn't keep going with this and we needed to make a decision, which we have.
"Leo wanted to stay, so he's not happy.
"We all wanted him to stay. For him, he has to confront reality. It's a reality that can't be changed and he knows I wish him the best wherever he goes."
