PSG 'increasingly confident' of signing Lionel Messi after Barca exit

PSG ‘increasingly confident’ of signing Lionel Messi as club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi leads move following icon’s shock Barcelona exit… after six-time Ballon d’Or winner ‘makes direct approach’ to boss Mauricio Pochettino

  • Paris Saint-Germain have reportedly been encouraged by talks with Lionel Messi
  • The departing Barcelona icon is said to have talked to boss Mauricio Pochettino
  • Club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi is leading talks to land Messi, reports suggest
  • PSG are expected to see competition from Premier League champions Man City 

Paris Saint-Germain increasingly believe they will sign departing Barcelona legend Lionel Messi after productive initial talks sparked by the icon directly approaching the French giants, according to reports.

Six-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi was said to have personally contacted PSG boss Mauricio Pochettino following the bombshell announcement on Thursday evening that he would be leaving his boyhood club, and accounts now claim that the Ligue 1 heavyweights are exploring how to maximise Messi’s commercial value.

Nasser Al-Khelaifi, the president of the heavily-bankrolled 2020 Champions League finalists, is leading the talks, according to The Athletic.


Mauricio Pochettino (left) is said to have moved closer to signing countryman Lionel Messi

Nasser Al-Khelaifi (left) could lead a deal to potentially unite Messi with Kylian Mbappe (right)

Friend and fellow South American superstar Neymar, who is said to have spoken to Messi days before the shock news of his exit from Barca, could play a crucial role in a potential move for the Argentina captain.

PSG playmaker Neymar posed for photos with Messi after Argentina beat Brazil in the Copa America final last month and is even rumoured to have offered his international rival his number 10 shirt at the Parc des Princes.

Former Argentina defender Pochettino remained tight-lipped when he was asked about Messi in a press conference on Friday, insisting that his side are concentrating on their top-flight opener at Troyes on Saturday.

Ahead of his first full season in charge, Pochettino admitted that PSG are working ‘in a discreet way’ to ‘improve the team in whichever way possible’. 

PSG and Brazil star Neymar could also be a key player in attracting Messi to the French giants

Neymar played with Messi at Barcelona and is still in contact with his Copa America nemesis 

Pochettino said: ‘In terms of Lionel Messi, we know what happened yesterday. I will not say anything different to that.

‘We are fully focused on beating Troyes and starting the season well. At the same time, our sporting director [Leonardo] and president are working hard to improve the team.’

PSG are said to be aware that Messi and his representative – father Jorge – are studying other options, with his former boss at Barcelona, Pep Guardiola, persistently linked with a move to take him to Manchester City.

City are keen to replace striker Sergio Aguero and are thought to be frontrunners to sign Tottenham talisman Harry Kane, while Pochettino could create a formidable forward line by uniting Messi with Neymar and France hitman Kylian Mbappe, whose contract at the club expires next year.




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