Lionel Messi eyes Champions League trophy with PSG

PARIS, France (AP):

Lionel Messi said he's "in the right place" to win another UEFA Champions League trophy and cited a reunion with Neymar as a key factor in his decision to sign with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).

The 34-year-old Argentina star spoke at his introductory news conference at Parc des Princes stadium yesterday, the morning after signing a two-year deal with the option for a third season after leaving Barcelona.

"My goal and dream is to raise another Champions (League Trophy) and I believe that I am in the right place to have the best chances to achieve that," Messi said.

"When you see this squad, you really want to play with them because there are so many possibilities," he added. "We have the same goal. And Neymar of course did a lot and was important for my choice."

Qatari-backed PSG has been desperate to win the Champions League, falling just short when it lost the 2020 final to Bayern Munich. Messi helped Barcelona win four Champions League trophies.

Messi's arrival gives PSG formidable attacking options as he links up with not only Neymar - his former teammate at Barcelona - but also France World Cup winner Kylian Mbappe.

"I'm going to play with best players, it's very nice, it's incredible to be able to experience this," Messi said when asked about playing with Mbappe and Neymar.

Most high-profile free agent

Besides Neymar, he specifically cited Argentina teammates and PSG players Angel di Maria and Leandro Paredes.

"Obviously, one of the reasons (I came) was the locker room: Neymar, Di Maria, Paredes, whom I know."

Messi said he is "ready" to start playing with PSG, who host Strasbourg on Saturday.

"When I feel it, when the staff thinks I'm okay, I'll be ready. I'm willing to play," he said.

Messi became the most high-profile free agent in football history after his attempts to stay at Barcelona were rejected last week by the Spanish league because the salary would not comply with financial regulations, with the Catalan club burdened by debts of more than US$1.4 billion (J$219 billion).

PSG moved quickly to sign the Argentina star. The team, Messi said, "positioned themselves and everything went really fast and it was easy. It happened in little time. It was a difficult situation and they were efficient."

PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino quickly made contact with his fellow Argentine after Barcelona announced last Thursday that Messi would be leaving the club he joined as a 13-year-old boy.

Messi won every major honour with Barcelona and was granted a tearful exit news conference on Sunday to signal the end of an era.

While PSG had to pay EU222 million (then J$34 billion) to sign Neymar from Barcelona in 2017, there was no transfer fee for Messi.

No salary details were given, but a person with knowledge of the negotiations earlier told The Associated Press that Messi is set to earn around EU35 million (J$6.4 billion) net annually. The person said on condition of anonymity before the contract was signed.