Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho has admitted he is motivated about the prospect of possibly facing Lionel Messi and Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League this season.
In one of the most sensational transfers of all-time, the French giants swooped to sign Messi earlier this week, landing him on a free transfer following his shock exit from Spanish outfit Barcelona.
His arrival in the French capital has massively strengthened what is already an outstanding squad, which had already been bolstered this summer with the signings of Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, Sergio Ramos from Real Madrid, Moroccan international Achraf Hakimi and former Liverpool midfield ace Georginio Wijnaldum.
But it is the signing of Messi that has, understandably, left every PSG supporter purring and dreaming that they can finally lay their hands on the Champions League.
For Sancho, however, he is looking to use Messi's move to the Ligue 1 giants as motivation, highlighting that he wants to reach the same levels as the Argentine and fellow PSG stars Kylian Mbappe and Neymar.
"I think I use that as motivation," Sancho told BT Sport. "PSG are a great side, they’ve got great players like Mbappe, Neymar and now Messi. As a young player I’m looking at that like: 'Woah'.
"That means I’ve got to step up my game and try to show the world that, although I’m not at that level yet, I can get to that level.
"And especially it’s good competition and every young player should thrive for big games like that. So if we ever did face them in the Champions League I will be buzzing.
"I’ll be ready to go. But yeah, they’ve got a great side, definitely."
Sancho, who is considered one of the most exciting young talents in the world, will be hoping to take strides towards reaching the same levels as the aforementioned trio at Old Trafford following his big-money move from Borussia Dortmund.
Sancho made the switch to United last month, joining the Reds in a £72.9million deal.
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