Lionel Messi has agreed to sign for Paris Saint-Germain on an initial two-year deal, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Les Parisiens have been considered the frontrunners for the 34-year-old’s signature since he voiced his desire to leave Barcelona last summer, although it was his intention to pen a new deal at Camp Nou this time around.
However, financial obstacles prevented Messi from extending his glittering spell in Catalonia, and PSG’s main rivals in the race for the attacker – Manchester City – were not considering a move for the six-time Ballon d’Or winner this summer.
PSG were understood to have tabled a two-year contract to Messi’s entourage, and transfer insider Romano claims that the Argentine has now accepted the Ligue 1 side’s offer.
Romano adds that Messi will soon fly to Paris to put pen to paper on the deal until 2023 with the option of another 12 months, and he will pocket around €35m (£29.6m) per year with Mauricio Pochettino’s side.
Manchester United were rumoured to have been preparing a last-ditch attempt to tempt Messi to Old Trafford, but it appears that the Red Devils have lost out in the race for his services.
Messi won 10 La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues during his 16-year spell in Barcelona’s first team, racking up 672 goals and 305 assists from 778 appearances.