Lionel Messi rejects Neymar's gesture as PSG offer new shirt number

Lionel Messi has rejected Neymar’s offer to take the No.10 shirt at Paris Saint-Germain and is considering the No.19 or the No.30 jersey, according to reports in Spain.

The French club are favourites to land Messi following last week’s surprise announcement that the Argentine would be leaving Barcelona after 21 years at Camp Nou.

Barcelona claimed that Messi’s departure is due to ‘financial and structural obstacles’, while the 34-year-old was in tears during his farewell press conference on Sunday.

Messi is now set to link back up with his former Barcelona teammate Neymar, who joined PSG in a world-record €222m (£200m) deal in 2017.

According to Marca, Neymar has already offered the No.10 shirt he wears at PSG to Messi but the Argentine has turned down the Brazilian’s offer.

PSG are now making arrangements for an alternative number and the No.30 jersey has been offered to Messi.

While the No.30 may not mean much for the majority of players and is primarily reserved for goalkeepers in Ligue 1, it symbolises the start of Messi’s professional career at Barcelona.

The Argentine wore the No.30 when he first broke into Barcelona’s first-team squad under Frank Rijkaard.

PSG and Messi are also understood to be considering the option of the No.19 jersey.

After establishing himself as a key player at Barca, Messi dropped the No.30 and wore the No.19 for two seasons.

Messi then inherited the No.10 shirt when Ronaldinho left Barcelona to join AC Milan in 2008.

Barcelona, meanwhile, have announced their squad numbers for the new season but have left the No.10 vacant following Messi’s departure.

PSG’s season has already begun as Mauricio Pochettino’s side came from behind to secure a 2-1 win over Troyes on Saturday.

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