Lionel Messi's move to Paris Saint-Germain is complete, and it happened in a style befitting of his status as the world's best player.
Private jets. Crowded streets. Fans massing at the stadium. An elaborate reveal.
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After his emotional departure from Barcelona two days earlier, Messi traveled to Paris on Tuesday to finalize the move, which is a two-year deal -- plus the option for a third -- with the Ligue 1 power.
Messi will meet the media and be formally introduced at a news conference on Wednesday, but first came remarkable scenes in two countries as the star and his family made their move.
🚨🚨 AMBIANCE EXCEPTIONNELLE ICI AU BOURGET SUITE À L'OFFICIALISATION DU TRANSFERT DE LIONEL MESSI 🇦🇷🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/GrFOX2VjdC
— Canal Supporters (@CanalSupporters) August 10, 2021
🔥🔥 DISPOSITIF DE SÉCURITÉ IMPRESSIONNANT 🚔 ET UNE ÉNORME FOULE A QUELQUES MINUTES DE L'ARRIVÉE DE MESSI 🇦🇷 À PARIS 🔴🔵#PSG #Messi #TeamPSG pic.twitter.com/Z81BkjQA7K
— Canal Supporters (@CanalSupporters) August 10, 2021
Fans filmed the police motorcade taking Messi to American Hospital in Neuilly-sur-Seine, Paris, for his medical assessment.
🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨 EXCLU CANAL SUPPORTERS ! @CanalSupporters Lionel Messi est arrivé à l'hôpital American de Neuilly pour passer sa visite médicale !!! 🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨 #PSG #Messi #MessiPSG pic.twitter.com/hHQNlBqRq2
— Canal Supporters (@CanalSupporters) August 10, 2021
The crowds were also at Parc des Princes to welcome Messi, who will join a team already loaded with stars such as Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Sergio Ramos.
PSG fans are gathered outside the Parc des Princes stadium to welcome Lionel Messi 🇦🇷👋 pic.twitter.com/sjGjzA5F6z
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) August 9, 2021
Messi and wife Antonela Roccuzzo earlier took a photo aboard their private jet, but the Argentine player changed shirts to greet his new supporters.
Messi and his family are ready to begin a new adventure 🤗🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/Z6DuTgCQDd
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) August 10, 2021
Wearing a shirt that says "This is Paris" in French while in Paris -- in front of Parisians -- seems as if it should be some kind of fashion faux pas, but then again, this is Messi.
Messi has arrived in Paris 👋 @ESPNFC pic.twitter.com/rmAx8azEAi
— ESPN (@espn) August 10, 2021
In dramatic fashion, Messi came to the window to meet his new devotees, and, with a wave, Paris has its newest hero.
As if the long days of waiting wasn't enough for PSG supporters, the club continued to tantalizingly tease Messi's arrival with various short video snippets...
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) August 10, 2021
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) August 10, 2021
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) August 10, 2021
Finally, at 10:15 p.m. Paris time, the moment we had all been waiting for: Lionel Messi is officially a PSG player! Here is how the Parisian club unveiled their new star with a little help from a drone.
A new 💎 in Paris !
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) August 10, 2021
PSGxMESSI ❤️💙 pic.twitter.com/2JpYSRtpCy
And how about a first picture with with Messi and his No. 30 PSG shirt?
Paris Saint-Germain is delighted to announce the signing of Leo Messi on a two-year contract with an option of a third year.https://t.co/D5Qjq7PJfF#PSGxMESSI ❤️💙 pic.twitter.com/msJAnW01V5
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) August 10, 2021
Now can he deliver the city the Champions League title it has craved for so long? A new era has begun...
