The 34-year-old Argentinean superstar arrived at a news conference at the Parc des Princes after arriving in the French capital the previous day and penning a two-year contract with the option of a third season.
PSG immediately emerged as the favorites to sign Messi following the shock of his departure last week from Barcelona and he arrived eyeing a fifth Champions League, with the most recent of his four victories with his old club coming in 2015.
“I have said many times that my dream is to win another Champions League and I think I am in the ideal place to have that chance and to do it,” Messi told reporters inside a packed auditorium, with the audience including his wife Antonella, their children, and his father and agent, Jorge.
PSG knocked Messi and Barcelona out of the Champions League last season and went on to reach the semi-finals following their run to the final in 2020.
“Sometimes you can have the best team in the world and not win. That’s football,” Messi, who won 35 trophies in total with Barca, added as he prepares to team up with Neymar and Kylian Mbappe in Paris.
“We know how difficult the Champions League is but Paris knows that too — they have come very close in recent years but it is a competition in which the best teams take part and the best team doesn’t always win.”
Messi-mania
PSG are reportedly paying 35 million euros ($41 million) a year to Messi, who will be wearing the number 30 jersey — fans were already queuing up outside the club’s different shops in the capital on Wednesday morning to buy the shirt with his name and number on the back.
“I’m very proud to present Leo Messi as a PSG player,” said Nasser al-Khelaifi, the president of the Qatar-owned outfit. “It is an amazing and historic day for the club, for the football world.”
Messi made no secret of his sadness at leaving Barca, the only club he has so far represented in his 17-year professional career, as he gave a tearful news conference at the Camp Nou last weekend.
‘Can’t wait to start’
However, on Wednesday he said he was looking forward to a new start in his career.
“Everyone knows that my departure from Barca was very hard because I spent so many years there, but as soon as I arrived here I felt enormously happy,” said the player who scored 672 goals in 778 games for the Catalans.
“Now I can’t wait to start training. Lionel Messi gestures to fans outside the stadium after his press conference on Wednesday. — Reuters
“The arrival of Lionel Messi will increase the attractiveness and visibility of our league on all continents,” French League president Vincent Labrune said.
