Paris: Lionel Messi spoke about his enthusiasm about playing alongside Neymar while also teaming with Kylian Mbappe at the Paris Saint-Germain. Messi was unveiled at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday and also addressed the media for the first time since becoming a PSG player.
“(To play with Neymar and Kylian Mbappe) is really crazy and I am really happy about that,” said the 34-year-old Messi, who joined PSG on a two-year contract with the option of a third season. Messi had earlier shared the dressing room with Neymar between 2013 and 2017 at Barcelona.
“Sharing the day-to-day life with them and the squad, the team is incredible and I really want to train and compete now because I am going to be playing with the best players. It is an incredible experience,” the Argentine added.
🔊 @Omar_daFonseca présent en toute occasion 🔊#PSGxMESSI pic.twitter.com/V5v6CYjONG
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) August 11, 2021
Messi, who joined Barcelona at the age of 13, has spent with the Catalan giants for nearly two decades but was forced to leave the club because of the La Liga Financial Fair Play rules. “My exit from Barca was very hard after so many years,” Messi said on Wednesday.
“Everything that happened to me in the last week was hard, and fast, too. It was emotional, changed from one day to the next, so many feelings. Nobody can be prepared for that. I cannot forget what I lived and experienced in Barcelona, but I am excited about this new stage for my career and my family.
😍 Qᴜᴇʟ ᴀᴄᴄᴜᴇɪʟ 😍#PSGxMESSI pic.twitter.com/kro3JECc4H
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) August 11, 2021
“As soon as I arrived here I was so happy, so motivated, so excited. It has happened so fast, but I am enjoying it so much. The squad and coaches here are capable of winning everything, which is my objective. I still want to win, as I wanted in the first moment of my career,” he said.
PSG play Strasbourg on Saturday in Ligue 1 and Messi doesn’t expect to make his debut on the weekend. “I don’t know. I was on holiday (after winning the Copa America with Argentina)… I spoke to the (technical) staff, maybe I need a pre-season. I hope I can play as soon as possible… when the staff think I am okay, then I’ll be ready,” he added.
