Lionel Messi, PSG Reportedly Agree to 2-Year, $88M Contract After Barcelona Exit

Andre Penner/Associated Press

Lionel Messi has reportedly agreed to a two-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain and will soon make his move to the French capital official following a shocking exit from Barcelona. 

According to Sky Sports and The Athletic, Messi plans to sign a two-year deal with a net salary of €25 million per season ($29.3 million). The contract also includes a €25 million fee at signing and includes a third-year option at €25 million. 

Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens of ESPN reported in July that Messi had agreed to a five-year extension to remain at Barcelona while taking a significant wage reduction. The club was never able to fit his contract into its wage limit for 2021-22, however, and it announced on Aug. 5 that Messi would leave after 17 years.

“I am really sad because I didn’t want to leave because this is the club I love,” he said in a farewell news conference. “I didn’t expect this. I have never lied; I have always been honest and upfront. Last year I wanted to leave; this year I didn’t. That’s why I am so sad.”

Messi noted he offered to reduce his salary by 50 percent, but the club still couldn’t make it work financially.

It left an opportunity for other teams to add one of the best players in history without having to pay a transfer fee.

Despite obvious interest from the top clubs in Europe, Paris Saint-Germain landed the player to continue an impressive transfer window that also included the additions of Sergio Ramos, Georginio Wijnaldum and Gianluigi Donnarumma. With Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and fellow Argentine Mauro Icardi among others already on the roster, the French club will be difficult to beat next season.

Even at 34 years old, Messi remains a difference-maker after totaling 30 goals and nine assists in 35 La Liga matches last season. He has been dominant throughout his career, leading Barcelona to 10 league titles and four Champions League trophies while winning the Ballon d’Or six times as the best player in the world.

The veteran won his first major international trophy this summer while leading Argentina to the Copa America title.

This addition could make PSG the favorite for both Ligue 1 and Champions League after reaching the UCL semifinal last year and the final in 2020.