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After 21 years in Barcelona, Lionel Messi moves to Paris Saint-Germain in a move that cost the club 36 million euros. Messi is arguably the all-time great in football. Messi scored a whooping 672 goals in nearly 800 games for Barcelona FC. He has been with the club since he was 13, for a period of 21 years by the time he exited this year, his entire professional career. He signed the first contract with Barca on a napkin back in 2000 and has won a record 6 Ballon d’Ors.
G.O.A.T
Messi is the greatest of all time or G.O.A.T and PSG are lucky as hell to have him within their ranks. The current transfer window has also seen Chelsea sign Romelu Lukaku for $115 million or 97.5 million euros. As Messi joins PSG, Kylian Mbappe has been linked to Real Madrid who have reportedly offered $188 million for the star player.
Messi: Picasso with the Ball
Lionel Messi is with the ball what Picasso was with a paintbrush. He is a short-figure guy who will make the most intense pass conversions and produce phenomenal goals. Whenever Messi gets the ball and he is anywhere near the opponent’s goal, a shockwave is sent to the other team’s defenders and they know all they can do is try, but will rarely ever get to stop the man. Messi loves his family. He is a family man and a big part of him loving being a Barca player was to live in Barcelona with his darling wife and three kids.
Messi’s father, who is also his agent, was instrumental in him reaching a deal with Paris Saint-Germain. Messi was teary during his last press conference at Barca, and his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, was there to hand him a napkin. It is so sad to see the G.O.A.T. cry but he loved Barca just as much as Barca loved him. One would argue that he has left such a huge vacuum in Barca that it will take signing 3 really good strikers to ever get near replacing him. He is frankly just that good.
It’s #30 for the G.O.A.T
PSG fans were elated. They waited for Messi in a Paris airport for more than a day to welcome him into the city for his medical. When he completed the deal, Paris was jubilant and his number 30 jerseys were sold out in hours. Messi chose number thirty as opposed to his number 10 jersey that he wore in Barca. The number 30 was his first jersey and one he donned when he entered Barca. He then went on to wear number 19 and then number 10, which he inherited from Ronaldinho.
Paris Saint-Germain have a star player and a good coach to go with him, Mauricio Pochettino. We here at Mania Sports still feel like Manchester City lost a good opportunity to sign Messi, but that is now water under the bridge. One can only imagine the quality that has gone to Paris and not come to the English Premier League. Messi is yet to play for PSG, however, as he is working on getting fit.
Messi: “El Mago”
He is a magician and PSG can be assured that the French Ligue 1 is already theirs to lose after signing such a high-quality, experienced, and achieved player. He was literally the captain of Barcelona. PSG have actually already lost their first game this season 2-0 to Troyes. They, however, rebounded and beat Strasbourg 4-2 and Brest also 4-2. Messi will definitely have a huge impact on the game once he comes on and we wish him well at the club.
Chelsea Sign Romelu Lukaku for $115 Million
Romelu Lukaku was signed by Chelsea from Inter Milan for a $115 million fee. Lukaku is another really good and high-quality player and it still bothers me, as a Manchester United fan, that he “wanted to go” and leave Man United for Inter Milan. Lukaku will be phenomenal for Chelsea especially when you couple him up with a tactician like Thomas Tuchel.
Chelsea already have such a star-studded team and if the chemistry is right, signing Lukaku will take them to the next level. Beware Man City and Man United because Chelsea is coming and coming fast! Lukaku’s departure from Man United is one of the reasons why so many people have wanted Ole Gunnar Solksjaer to be sacked. Lukaku reportedly left after disagreeing or not being in line with Ole’s style of play and management.
Lukaku Leaving After Disagreement with MUFC Manager
It is so unfortunate that a legendary club such as Manchester United can let go of such a talented player only to keep a manager. Despite this, we are still loyal to the ‘Red Devils’ and despite the recent flop, a 1-1 draw with Southampton on 22nd August, we are hopeful that this season will be one for the books. Glory Glory Man United! GGMU!
Is Kylian Mbappe Leaving Paris Saint-Germain?
As Messi is coming in to PSG, Kylian Mbappe could well be on his way out. Kylian is a text-book story of a player who is discovered in the World Cup, similar to Cristiano Ronaldo, and ends up becoming a huge, huge star. Kylian has converted for PSG greatly and they will definitely lose a star and quality player if he moves to Real Madrid.
It is surprising that Real could sign him owing to the fact that Messi left Barca due to new La Liga laws restricting how much clubs can pay their players. Nonetheless, Kylian would really have an impact and mix that with Messi leaving Barca, and La Liga could as well be Real Madrid’s already this season and for seasons to come. We are yet to know whether the move will happen but it will definitely be a loss for PSG.
The Alchemy of Messi in PSG
You can imagine what great showpieces Messi and Mbappe and other stay players like Neymar, could conjure up for Paris Saint-Germain. Even so, the game of football is a game of transfers and if the money is right and the player is willing to endorse a new challenge, then a transfer will happen, whether the fans like it or not. It seems to me like a case of getting gold and giving up silver and it remains to be seen whether PSG will lose more for selling Mbappe and signing Messi or still have enough in its ranks to not feel the difference, and actually up its game. As with everything, only time will tell.
