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THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 2021 Messi sets sights on Champions League ‘dream’ after PSG unveiling

PARIS: has set his sights on more ing to buy the shirt with his name and number on the Champions League glory after being unveiled as a back. Saint-Germain player yesterday as hundreds of Messi was given a hero’s welcome when he fans gathered outside the club’s hoping to arrived in Paris on Tuesday, greeting supporters at Le see their new idol. Bourget airport to the north of the city and waving The 34-year-old Argentinian superstar was pre- from the balcony of the plush hotel where he is stay- sented to media from all over the world at a news ing near the Champs Elysees. conference at the after arriving in Yesterday, he appeared unfazed as he emerged, the French capital the previous day and penning a immaculately turned out, to talk to media, although two-year contract with the option of a third season. he did seem slightly uneasy at times, not least when PSG quickly emerged as the favorites to sign one member of the audience started chanting his Messi following the shock of his departure last week name. from and he arrives eyeing a fifth Unlike when Zlatan Ibrahimovic signed for PSG in Champions League, with the most recent of his four 2012 there was no glitzy unveiling in front of the victories with his old club coming in 2015. , but Messi was photographed on the “I have said many times that my dream is to win pitch before greeting the supporters who had waited another Champions League and I think I am in the at the stadium entrance, watching his press confer- ideal place to have that chance and to do it,” Messi ence on a big screen. “I’m very proud to present Leo told reporters inside a packed auditorium, with the Messi as a PSG player,” said Nasser Al-Khelaifi, the audience including his wife Antonella, their children, president of the Qatar-owned outfit. “It is an amazing and his father and agent, Jorge. Messi and Barcelona and historic day for the club, for the football world.” were knocked out of the Champions League last sea- Messi made no secret of his sadness at leaving son by PSG, who went on to reach the semi-finals Barca, the only club he has so far represented in his following their run to the final in 2020. 17-year professional career, as he gave a tearful “Sometimes you can have the best team in the news conference at the last weekend. world and not win. That’s football,” Messi, who won 35 trophies in total with Barca, added as he prepares ‘Can’t wait to start’ PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain’s Argentinian forward Lionel Messi salutes supporters gathered outside the Parc to team up with and Kylian Mbappe in Paris. However yesterday he said he was looking for- des Princes stadium after his first official press conference as a PSG player in Paris yesterday. (Inset) Messi “We know how difficult the Champions League is but ward to getting started in his new home. “Everyone speaks at a press conference during his unveiling at PSG’s stadium in Paris. — AFP Paris know that too-they have come very close in knows that my departure from Barca was very hard recent years but it is a competition in which the best because I spent so many years there, but as soon as I at home in . and visibility of our league on all continents,” he said. teams take part and the best team doesn’t always arrived here I felt enormously happy,” said the player PSG are now even more obvious favorites to run Attention, though, will now turn to the future of win.” who scored 672 goals in 778 games for the Catalans. away with the French title, a trophy they missed out 22-year-old Mbappe, who has just a year left on his “Now I can’t wait to start training.” on last season to . However, despite concerns contract and has been strongly linked to Real Messi-mania Messi has had no pre-season having been on holi- about a lack of competitive balance, French League . “Kylian is a Parisian, he’s very competitive. PSG are reportedly paying 35 million ($41 day since winning the Copa America with Argentina president Vincent Labrune hailed the arrival of the He said he wanted a competitive team,” Al-Khelaifi million) a year to Messi, who will wear the number 30 a month ago. He is therefore unlikely to make his six-time Ballon d’Or winner as “extraordinary news said. “Now there’s no-one more competitive than us. jersey-fans were already queueing up outside the debut for PSG any time soon, and certainly not this for the exposure of Ligue 1 internationally”. “The He has no reason to do anything else,” other than club’s different shops in the capital yesterday morn- weekend when ’s team play arrival of Lionel Messi will increase the attractiveness stay, he added. — AFP