ICC to push QatarTribune Qatar_Tribune for cricket’s QatarTribuneChannel qatar_tribune inclusion in Olympics, aims at LA 2028 bid WEDNESday, AUGUST 11, 2021 page 14 Superstar Messi joins and Mbappe at Saint-Germain

Argentinian football player waves to supporters from a window after he landed on Tuesday at Le Bourget airport, north of Paris, to become Paris Saint-Germain’s new player. (AFP) Argentinian will wear number 30 shirt for PSG DPA move quickly. doubt with the France star Paris The 34-year-old was said having only one year left to be a target a year ago when on his contract, though Lionel Messi has joined he stated his desire to leave, there has been talk that Paris Saint-Germain on an but ended up staying and play- Messi’s signing could con- Supporters cheer outside French football club Paris Saint-Germain’s (PSG) in Paris on Tuesday, after Argentinian foot- initial two-year deal after ing out the final year of his vince him to agree new terms ball player Lionel Messi landed in Le Bourget airport near Paris. (AFP) calling time on his 18-year contract. with PSG. career. Having teased the signing During his time at Bar- Back together, says mate . “For us, it’s an added value in 2020-21. Messi became arguably throughout the day on social celona, Messi claimed four Neymar French giants PSG have pre- and I’m sure that this year, And Bonucci, who played the greatest footballer of all media, PSG finally confirmed Champions League triumphs Brazil striker Neymar Jr also viously been linked with fellow more than in past years, he a starring role in Italy’s time at , scoring it with a video that included alongside 10 LaLiga titles. posted an story superstar forward Ronaldo, who will help us reach all of our 2020 triumph, is aiming to 672 times in 778 appearanc- footage of their new recruit The forward finally won a with Messi on Tuesday and is now into the final 12 months goals.” win back the title from Inter es, but his prolific spell came standing in the centre circle of senior international trophy in he captioned it as: “Back to- of his contract with Juve. Since Ronaldo joined Ju- when the new season begins in to an end after Barca’s dire the Parc des Princes. July, firing in four goals and gether”. With any path to the Parc ventus from Real in a little under two weeks’ time. financial situation forced the He will wear the number adding five assists to secure Neymar and Messi used des Princes now effectively be- 2018, only Robert Lewan- “We want to bring the Scu- club’s hand, Stats Perform 30 shirt and while PSG con- Argentina’s first Copa America to be teammates while play- ing cut off by Messi’s arrival, dowski (103) has scored more detto back home, there is no reports. firmed the initial contract success since 1993. ing for Barcelona, but the duo Ronaldo looks set to stay in goals in all competitions than point in hiding that,” he said. The six-time Ballon d’Or length, it is widely reported Messi’s acquisition marks parted ways after the Brazilian for at least the next year. the Portugal forward’s 73 “When you play for Juven- winner had been a free agent there is an option in place for the culmination of a transfer striker signed with PSG. (ANI) However, Bonucci insists among players in ’s top tus, that has to be the objective since July 1, though the a further year. window that has seen PSG add the shock transfer involving five leagues. for the season, just like hav- expectation was for him to Messi will be reunited with significantly to their squad, Messi to PSG makes no Messi has had no bearing on Ronaldo’s 83 involve- ing a great Champions League sign a new contract at the former Barcelona team-mate signing Gianluigi Donnarum- difference to Ronaldo where Ronaldo will play his ments over this period rank campaign and fighting on all Catalan club. Neymar, who joined PSG in a ma, , Georginio at Juve: Bonucci football this coming season. fourth behind Lewandowski fronts. However, last Thursday’s world-record deal in 2017, and Wijnaldum and Achraf Haki- Lionel Messi’s imminent “I think that Cristiano (121), Messi (106) and Kylian “Personally, though, my announcement he would not link-up with Kylian Mbappe, mi after missing out on the switch to Paris Saint-Germain would have stayed even if Mbappe (97). goal is to continue my form re-sign with Barca due to with that trio set to form a dev- title and losing in the has not had an impact on Cris- Messi had not gone to PSG,” Despite Ronaldo enjoying from the , where I played “financial and structural ob- astating forward line. Champions League semi-fi- tiano Ronaldo’s future with the Juve defender told Gazzet- another prolific season in front a major role, and do that again stacles” prompted PSG to Mbappe’s future is in nals last season. Juventus, according to team- ta dello Sport. of goal, Juve finished fourth in with Juventus.”

Fans gather for Messi joining ‘beautiful’ PSG New diamond in Paris’ squad excites Donnarumma

DPA Paris

Lionel Messi is the best player in the world and would enhance an already “beautiful” Paris Saint-Germain squad, according to Gianluigi Don- narumma. Messi bade an emotional farewell to Barcelona over the weekend after “financial and structural obstacles” pre- vented him from signing fresh terms at Camp Nou. PSG are widely viewed as Supporters stand behind a fence upon Argentinian football player Lionel Messi (not seen) arrival on the frontrunners for his sig- Tuesday at Le Bourget airport, north of Paris. (AFP) nature, meaning the tantalis- ing prospect of a forward line DPA ing at the assembled fans. flag hanging on a dressing featuring Neymar and Kylian London PSG started to tease their room peg between former Bar- Mbappe alongside the six- social media followers by post- ca team-mate Neymar’s num- time Ballon d’Or winner. Excited Paris St Germain ing a 13-second video clip on ber 10 shirt and the number Donnarumma, the star of fans gathered at the Parc des their account which seven worn by Kylian Mbappe. Italy’s Euro 2020 final penalty Princes on Tuesday evening featured what appeared to be PSG have called a press shoot-out win over England, after the club issued a series of a brief image of a footballer in conference for Wednesday similarly joined the Ligue 1 gi- less than subtle hints that Ar- an Argentina number 10 shirt morning, although there was ants on a free transfer after his gentina superstar Lionel Messi and a picture of the PSG dress- still no official confirmation deal at Milan expired. was about to sign. ing room with an Argentinian of a signing which the player Achraf Hakimi, Georginio The 34-year-old six-times flag hanging above a seat. himself admitted was a pos- Wijnaldum and Sergio Paris Saint-Germain’s Italian goalkeeper arrives at the Royal Monceau palace in Ballon d’Or winner, who bade The footage was accompa- sibility as he took his leave Ramos have also signed amid Paris on Tuesday. (AFP) an emotional farewell to Bar- nied by the words, “New dia- of the club he had joined as a a considerable facelift for celona after 21 years on Sun- mond in Paris”. 13-year-old at the weekend. ’s squad, me a wonderful welcome,” happy at the thought of having Donnarumma is yet to day, had earlier been pictured Then they tweeted another Messi’s wife Antonela also but the Azzurri goalkeeper Donnarumma told Sky Italia. him in the team.” feature for Pochettino’s men in Paris, sending the club’s video clip showing six Ballons posted an update on her Insta- has no doubt Messi’s arrival “We’ll find out soon if it’s PSG were unseated by Lille after started supporters into a frenzy. d’Or with the Eiffel Tower in gram account which read, “All would take things to the next official or not, but I’m happy if last season and lost 1-0 to the that game and the 2-1 come- Footage posted on social the background, along with together towards a new adven- level. Messi arrives in Paris. reigning Ligue 1 champions in back win over newly promoted media later showed Messi ar- an egg timer emoji and later ture” alongside a picture of the “I got to know the team, it’s “He is the strongest in the the Trophee des Champions at Troyes to kick off the league riving at the stadium and wav- a third showing an Argentina couple on an aeroplane. a beautiful group and they gave world and I’m excited and the start of this month. campaign last weekend.