The long wait is over and Lionel Messi is now officially a Paris Saint Germain player. What a shock that has been sent to the world of football. Not because he signed for PSG but because of his love affair with Barcelona coming to an end. He held a press conference and almost through it, he was shedding tears and that's a testament to how his life would change afterwards.
A lot has been said and done and it's no longer news and speculation, he has joined Neymar in PSG and the attention would now shift to the French league. The same effect that Cristiano Ronaldo brought to Juventus. With his effect, the audience watching the Seria A increased same with the sale of the jersey. PSG started feeling the effect of Lionel Messi already even before kicking a ball as their PSG token used to purchase their merchandise online has increased in value. It moved from $31 to $57 at the time of writing this article and I am sure the sale of the jersey would also skyrocket anytime soon.
The effect of Messi cannot only be limited to the field but off-field. He has brought more attention to the league, to the city itself and more focus would now be on what he would be doing in PSG shirt. When he landed and it was obvious from the smiles on his face that he has focused his mind on making Paris a home due to the events of the past few days.
There would always be speculations as someone called him 'greedy'. I don't know maybe there is more to this story but from what I have gathered, he was willing to take a pay cut to stay with Barcelona, so how that amounts to greed is what I still can't grasp except there is more to the story we have been told. Lionel Messi is Barcelona through and through and for him to leave Barcelona after so many years, I believe the decision was out of his hand because he is comfortable with Barcelona and going to PSG would mean he has to adapt to a new environment, settle his family in, familiarize with the movements of his new teammates and learn a new culture. It's a lot and that's why staying at Barcelona would have been an easy option for him but leaving Barcelona means he had no choice.
A lot of focus would be on PSG and they would be expected to win every game now with Messi in their ranks. They are expected to win every game even before Messi, more so now, they won't be given any excuse. With the calibre of the player Messi is, I don't think he needs time to adapt because his footballing brain allows him to know what to do in certain situations and I would say that his addition to PSG would increase their stock even more.
PSG came close several times in the Champions League and you could tell that they lacked that extra bite in the final third to get them the needed win and with Messi now in their ranks, a failure to win the UEFA Champions League would be deemed as a failure as it was the case with Cristiano Ronaldo at Juventus. Many people said he was signed so Juventus can win the Champions League as winning the league has never been an issue for them. I think the same can be said of Lionel Messi too and there would be a lot of scrutiny in the performances of the entire team.
Lionel Messi is officially a PSG player and his love affair in Barcelona colours has come to an end. He signed a 2-year contract and it's mouth-watering to see how devastating they would be with Sergio Ramos already holding the defence, Wijnaldum holding the midfield and the dynamic trio terrorizing the front in persons of Neymar, Mbappe and Messi. Not to forget Verratti in midfield as well as Di Maria on the flanks. This would be interesting and I guess I will add PSG games to the list of games to watch every time they play.
How well do you think Messi would thrive in France? Let me hear your thoughts.
Thank you for your time.
My pen doesn't bleed, it speaks, with speed and ease.
Still me,
My tongue is like the pen of a ready writer.
Olawalium; (Love's chemical content, in human form). Take a dose today: doctor's order.
