Categories: Sports

Pochettino Confirms Talks Between PSG and Messi Following Shock Barcelona Exit

Mauricio Pochettino

French giants Paris Saint-Germain have made contact with Lionel Messi over a potential move, Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed.

ESPN claims to have been informed by sources that the player’s arrival could have an impact on the futures of Kylian Mbappe and Paul Pogba.

The site claims PSG reached out to Messi on Thursday following the unexpected announcement from Barca that he would not be signing a new deal with them. PSG sporting director Leonardo and chairman Nasser al Khelaifi are heavily involved in the discussions with Messi, having been in contact with his father, Jorge, for some time.

Speaking at a news conference ahead of PSG’s opening game of the Ligue 1 season, Pochettino confirmed that information. “Of course [signing Messi] is a possibility,” he said. “The club is working on it and if there is any information we will communicate it as soon as possible.”

Messi joining PSG would increase the likelihood of Mbappe, who is out of contract next summer, signing a new long-term deal with the club. This would damage Real Madrid’s hopes of signing the 22-year-old on a free transfer next summer.

Messi’s arrival in Ligue 1 would also mean PSG end their interest in signing Manchester United midfielder Pogba, meaning he would run down his contract at Old Trafford before becoming a free agent next summer.

PSG have long been vocal about their wishes to sign Messi since he announced in August 2020 that he wanted to leave Camp Nou.

PSG’s owner Tamim bin Hamad is eager to bring Messi to the club and is kept informed of all the conversations around the Messi situation. Bin Hamad has been keen to sign either Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo since he bought the club in 2011.

However, there will be heavy financial implications for PSG should they manage to entice Messi to the club. While he is a free agent after running down his contract with Barca, the 34-year-old would still command a large contract in terms of wages, commissions, a signing-on fee and bonuses.