Righto, that’s us done - here’s a reported version of what’s just come to pass. Ta-ra for now.
So how do you defend against MMN? Perhaps a high line, given only Mbappe has the pace to scare you in behind, but then you’re opening so many passing lanes for Messi. A low block it is then.
And here’s the latest of our Premeer League previews.
Here’s Sid Lowe on Mexit.
One team Messi won’t be facing this term is Rangers, who went out of Champions League qualifying to 10-man Malmö – beaten by Nottingham Forest in the 1979 final.
And back to Messi, here’s how it all went down.
Check out this week’s Knowledge!
What’s annoying about this, the obvious stuff aside, is that we’re not going to know until mid-February at the earliest, when the Champions League knockouts start, what difference, if any, this is going to make. But between now and then, you’ve got to assume that various Ligue 1 sides are going to take severe kickings.
Similarly, I wonder what the plan for Sergio Ramos is, given Kimpembe and Marquinhos are already ensconced in the centre of Paris’ defence. Obviously there’s scope to rotate, but if all three are fit for the big games, Pochettino will have to make a call and someone will be disappointed. My guess is that it’ll be Kimpembe – imagine telling Ramos he’s sitting at the side for the Champions League final – but if that’s what happens, I hope someone is smart enough to film it.
I mentioned this earlier, but having Messi gives Pochettino a lot of thinking to do. Previously, I wondered if he might look to refresh the squad with younger players more able – and more inclined – to run as hard as he expects his teams to. That’s not going to happen now, so does he have a replacement plan? And how will he dominate possession against Europe’s better teams, who have younger, more feral players?
Tangentially, the Rumour Mill is back and therein is the yarn that Ander Herrera, one of Messi’s new teammates, might go back to Man United. I’d be shocked if that happened, but not at all shocked if Paris are trying to offload him. One thing I will say about Herrera is that – if he chooses to and I think he will – he could be a really good manager. He loves the game, understands the game and communicates with passion and precision.
I guess Messi said as much as we’ve come to expect him to say: the cube root of nowt. There are some – many, I’m sure – who consider this part of his charm: he’s amazing at football and none of the rest of him is anybody’s business. I feel that – why is his art not enough? – but equally, there are those who want their footballers to stand for something more, to share more, to have more to share – and I feel that too.
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“Just wondering if Sergio Ramos will leave one on Messi during training from muscle memory alone,” emails Kishalay Banerjee.
I guess it depends if any ex-Brookside actors have a penchant for the diminutive Argentinian. But in similar vein, it’ll be interesting to see how well he adds to his red-card collection.
Leonardo joins them, and there’s lots of smiling, then a bro-hug with Al-Khelaifi followed by a more standard one with the other Leo.
Four years ago, Verratti could’ve come to Barcelona, and now Messi is here – that’s a statement not a question, but Messi says he’s a good player. He then revises that up to “incredible, phenomenal”, saying he’s also a good bloke and the squad are all great so he helps he can do his part to achieve their goals and his personal goals. And that’s it, so there are a few shouts of “Meeeeesi! Meeeeesi! Meeeeesi!” then the player and Ak-Khelaifi pose with his number 30 shirt.
Messi is ready for a new experience and hopes his family will settle. Ultimately, football is the same the world over and he has friends in Paris, which is good. He’ll get used to his new teammates and is really happy, he just wants to train and get to know his new buddies. It’s new for him and his family, but he’s ready, and Paris is a beautiful, amazing city that he’s sure they’ll enjoy so he’s happy.
Al-Khelaifi: 'Everyone now wants to see PSG games'
Al-Khelaifi thinks everyone now wants to see PSG games – which will be positive for the rest of the clubs in Ligue 1, who’ll be taking batterings even more severe than over the last few years, with even less chance of winning any trophies than over the last few years. The work begins today for PSG and for Paris – they’re not just doing this for the club, but for the city. Aw! I’m choking up here.
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BBC ask how Paris can afford to have such an amazing squad and stick to FFP rules, while Messi is asked about his conversation with Pochettino. Al-Khelaifi is just a bit too delighted to be asked this question, congratulating it and saying that they always check that it’s possible before doing it. Messi is bringing lots to the club commercially, he notes, saying if he showed us the numbers we’d be shocked.
As shocked as we’d be seeing the ones moving into Messi’s bank account, or of migrant workers who’ve died working on the Qatar World Cup? Who can say. We don’t get an answer on Pochettino.
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Messi says he’s got the same enthusiasm now that he had when he was a kid, then Al-Khelaifi is asked when he knew getting Messi was possible. “It was very quick when Leo decided to finish with Barcelona,” he says.
On Barca, he notes that the city is home. He’s lived there since he was a kid, and it was hard to leave without knowing where he was going, but now he wants to win and his goals are the same as Paris’ goals. He doesn’t know if he’ll play against Barca and to do so would be strange, but he hopes it happens and happens in front of the fans.
Next question asks what Messi knows about French football and if he knows about the different rivalries – I bet he’s buzzing for Troyes away – and says he’d been following his friends from Spain, so has a good understanding of the league.
'I'm going to play with the best players in the world'
Asked about the role of Neymar, Messi says he’s got some friends in the dressing room and they’ve got the same goals – when they weren’t together but now that they are. He also name-checks Paredes and Di Maria, his Argentina teammates, and says Neymar was important in making his decision.
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The next question is what PSG means to him – I’d love an honest answer to this one – but he says the team are ready to win the Champions League. That’s his ambition, and he thinks Paris is the best place to achieve that. Al-Khelaifi says they need to work and win every game, but they’re focused and don’t hide their goal. First, they’ll focus on the league then, after 15 September, they’ll think about Europe. They might be favourites, but that’s easy to say, and they need to work.
Messi’s asked about winning the Champions League, saying sometimes you can have the best team and fail – that’s football, sometimes it’s about the details. Paris have come close before, and you can see from outside that the dressing room is united, “but sometimes you need the luck but also, you have to chase the luck”. The best team doesn’t always win the Champions League, which is why it’s so beautiful.
The next question is about Mbappe’s future and Al-Khelaifi says we know it already, he said he wants a competitive team and now he’s got the most competitive one in the world, so he’s got no excuses and has to stay.
Al-Khelaifi is asked what the limits are of this move and told that fans have been waiting for him for three days, so asked to give them a message. He says that they’re very excited and the team now need to be disciplined and win every game. Messi then says he’s grateful to the people in the street, having seen pictures while still in Spain. He wants to see them in the ground, and it’s going to be an incredible year.
He says it’s been emotional leaving Barca and he now feels”impatient and happy about this new life”. There’ve been ups and downs this week but every day he’s processing.
He’s not sure when he’ll play his first minutes in Ligue 1 as he’s been on holiday and this is very new, but he spoke to the technical staff yesterday and maybe needs a pre-season. He’ll begin to train and work and hopes to play as soon as he can – when the club thinks he’s ready, he’ll be ready.
He’s asked about playing alongside Neymar and Mbappe, and says it’s great to be training with them and living alongside them - and all the other players. “It’s very nice”. I concur.
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Messi eager 'to begin new moment of my life'
Messi says he’s very happy, though his exit from Barcelona was very hard after so many years. It’s a very difficult change after such a long time, but arriving in Paris he feels very happy and can’t wait to start training. He’s enjoyed his time in Paris “since the first minute” and is just thinking about starting training, “beginning this new moment of my life”. He thanks Al-Khelaifi and Leonardo, who were quick in their negotiations, which were easy – yes, writing noughts is not taxing – and he thinks the club is ready to fight for all the trophies, which is his goal. He wants to keep winning titles, which is why he’s come to the club, and thanks Paris for receiving him so nicely – he’s going to fight for the club, thanks Al-Khelaifi and Leonardo again – I wonder if that was a contractual term – and will now take questions.
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Messi is told that his kids will be happy in Paris, and they’ve told Al-Khelaifi that Paris is their favourite or one of their favourite cities in the world.
Right, here he is...
Messi is speaking now but my Spanish is learnt from watching Money Heist with subtitles, so we’ll have to wait for the translated feed to catch up.
When they bought Paris, people wondered what they were going to do, but now they have the best player in the world. Al-Khelaifi thanks Messi and his father, saying he’s got no notes and is speaking from the heart, thanking everyone involved in making the deal happen. He’s grateful to people who believed in the project from day one and this is a great day for the club, but they’ve still not won anything and “the hard work starts now” – though we know there are different interpretations of what “hard work” means, as explained by Amnesty International.
Nasser Al-Khelaifi, next to Messi, is “very happy and very proud” to present Messi, saying it’s a great moment for
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the club. Messi is the only man to win six Ballon d’Or’s and “it’s amazing” what they’ve achieved. Yes, how on earth did they do it? It’s a mystery, a real head-scratcher.
...and it’s there! Messi has done it! He’s behind the desk! OH I SAY!
...into a small auditorium...
...past a fire extinguisher on his left...
He walks down the stairs...
Here comes Messi, in suit and with family.
“For practical reasons,” emails Cyril R, “PSG players tend to live in the western suburbs, where the training ground is (Saint-Germain-en-Laye). Neymar lives in Bougival and Di Maria in Neuilly-sur-Seine. My guess is that Messi will stay not too far from them.”
Ah, thanks.
The crowd are starting to sing – understandably so, all they want to do is support their team. But for the rest of us, there’s a fair bit more going on, none of it remotely edifying.
The press conference is imminent...
“Do you think PSG signing Messi is a bit of an overreaction to losing Ligue 1 to Lille?” asks Gary Byrne.
Not at all. Messi’s availability is a dream for owners desperate for legitimacy and for whom money is no object, never mind just before their country hosts a much-derided World Cup. As it goes, they’re still gagging to win the Champions League, but they’d have signed him even if they’d done that the last 39 years in a row.
Seeing as we’re talking about Paris, please allow me to recommend Les Misérables, Ladj Ly’s brilliant film about life in the banlieues. It’s on Netflix and definitely worth your time.
Outside, people are having fun.
I was just about to see what photos there are of this extravaganza, but before I entered a search term, this was at the top – normal country this – so it’s my duty to share. I do love a Wham bar.
Where do Paris players tend to live? In the city, or on the outskirts? I guess they might fancy the space you get further away from the centre, but if you can afford to be in town – and I daresay Messi can – that seems like something that’s hard to turn down.
Messi is apparently in the tunnel, but we’ve not go eyes on him yet. More news as I get it.
We’re now watching an action replay of Messi writing his name. Seriously. I’d like to see from above, please, and can we also have a reverse angle then stick lines on the screen to check it was on the line?
They’ve slipped into French now, dizgraze if you ask me. Ah, and back into English telling us that Paris is the world’s most popular tourist destination. I didn’t know that, but I’m not surprised as I remember being told that the Palace of Versailles gets more visitors than Buckingham Palace, despite not being in the capital nor having housed a royal family for a fair old while.
Tell you what, this must be a serious buzz for the rest of the Paris squad. Paredes and Di Maria not so much as they’re teammates with Messi for Argentina, but the others are suddenly getting to play with him out of the blue. It’s like going to work and finding treats “in the usual place” every single day.
Just looking at the ages of those involved, Neymar is 29 so should have two more years of being the player we know, while Messi, though 34, is still pretty handy. He might not be quite as quick running with the ball, but his passing is better now than it was at his peak and his finishing, especially from around 18-25 yards, probably is too, likewise his free-kicks.
Hearing lots of “is this the best forward line ever?” They haven’t played a game yet.
— Sid Lowe (@sidlowe) August 11, 2021
I wonder whether Messi had any other offers, or whether he entertained them. Part of me is surprised he was so eager to move to Ligue 1 – I doubt many players would choose it over Serie A, the Bundesliga, La Liga and the Premeer League. Presumably Paris offered him most money, but I’m surprised he’s not wanting to play where the football is most fun – and I doubt that’s where he’s ended up, so many seasons coming down to a few big games in Europe. In any event, corona looks like rebalancing the global game in further in favour of the oil clubs, Paris, Chelsea and Man City – realistically, only Man United and Bayern Munich have the resources and reputation to stop them wading in when everyone else, the Spanish giant especially, are ailing.
The presenter keeps referring to “Ney”, like they’re boys; maybe they are. But imagine growing up in a Scottish playground with the name Nae ma.
There are fans outside the ground and Omar da Fonseca, an Argentinian who played a season for Paris in 85-86, singing Messi’s name. Ah, and we cut to a wide and there are actually quite a lot of people there, bouncing.
I do still wonder if Paris have enough in midfield – watching them over the last few seasons, that’s been the obvious weakness in the team. But if Angel di Maria has the legs, him alongside Verratti and Wijnaldum is not unlike Bran Flakes.
Mauricio Pochettino, though. Gets fired from Spurs having won nowt, gets the Paris job and avoids winning the league but takes a Champions League doing ... and now he manages perhaps the greatest player ever. Imagine if he manages a repeat! It’ll be interesting to see, though, the extent to which he imposes the rigorous pressing and running that worked so well at Spurs – are Messi and Neymar even capable anymore? – and whether it’s Messi on the right and Mbappé through the middle, or vice-versa.
The telly presentation, on PSG’s website, is underway, and can be watched here.
Thanks Tom and morning everyone. “Lionel Messi plays for Paris Saint-Germain” is one of those weird, rare sentences that simultaneously makes you say “You what?!” and “Of course!”, both the opposite of football and apotheosis of football. Unlike the majority of our greatest footballers – Garrincha, Pele, Best, Cruyff, Beckenbauer, Maradona, Ronaldinho – Messi represents little bar being good at football, so in a sense, Parc des Princes is the perfect home for him. Of course, the supporters of PSG and city of Paris give the club a unique identity, but to the majority of others, it doesn’t mean the most. But here we are so here we are.
Preamble
Morning everyone, and welcome, as one of the more remarkable/decadent/stunning/depressing transfer sagas of our age is consummated at the Parc des Princes with Lionel Messi’s unveiling by Paris Saint-Germain. The Argentina forward signed a two-year deal with PSG on Tuesday worth around €35m a year net, with an option for a further year, after his tear-stained departure from Barcelona on Sunday. And today he will be formally unveiled at a press conference that starts at 10am BST. Daniel will be here shortly for all the news and reaction.
In the meantime, here’s the inside gen:
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