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PSG announce Lionel Messi transfer

11 August 2021 00:32 (UTC +04:00)

Lionel Messi has arrived in Paris to agree a deal worth more than £1million per week following his departure from Barcelona, APA reports citing The Telegraph.

The Argentina forward, 34, flew to the French capital to complete his free transfer to Paris Saint-Germain after Spanish authorities’ financial “obstacles” prevented him signing a new deal at the Nou Camp last week.

Messi is set to receive €35million per season after tax, making his annual gross salary £53.8million before deductions are made. He is expected to receive a signing-on fee that will increase his overall earnings during his two-year contract, which has an option for a third season.

After tearfully waving farewell to Barca at the weekend during a press conference, he has maintained his position as the biggest earner in football.

His previous contract at Barca earned him €555million over four years when marketing rights and other endorsement-related bonuses were considered, leaked documents to El Mundo just after Messi unsuccessfully tried to leave Barca last year. The Spanish newspaper had Messi’s annual earnings at £112million.Barca had agreed a new contract with Messi last week but it did not pass Spanish football authorities’ financial regulations.

La Liga has recently agreed a deal worth £2.3billion to private equity firm, CVC Capital Partners, to give a cash injection, although “obstacles” to the Messi deal prevented it from being completed. Barca president Joan Laporta gave an interview the following day to explain the reasons for Messi’s deparure, then the player himself gave a tearful farewell in a press conference at the weekend.

PSG fans gathered at the club’s Parc des Princes home on Tuesday to welcome Messi, while others tried to glimpse the Ballon d’Or holder at Le Bourget Airport in the north of Paris. Pictures emerged of Messi and his family flying from Barcelona and he waved to fans on his arrival, wearing a white Paris t-shirt.