LIONEL MESSI is in Paris to finalise his move to Ligue 1 side PSG.
The French giants are set to officially unveil the Argentinian superstar imminently, with Messi signing a bumper two-year deal.
Elsewhere, Romelu Lukaku has completed a medical ahead of his move to Chelsea and could join in time to play in the Super Cup on Wednesday.
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Follow ALL of the latest news and updates below…
- Giacomo Pisa
HOTEL HELLO
Lionel Messi waves to PSG fans who have gathered outside his hotel in Paris.
PSG are holding a press conference at 10am (UK time) tomorrow, where Messi is set to be officially unveiled.
- Giacomo Pisa
GERARD'S GUTTED
Barcelona centre-back Gerard Pique has spoken about Messi's move to PSG, with the two Nou Camp legends playing together for the last 13 years.
He says: "We lose the best player of all time. It has hurt us and it hurt him too.
"I don't know the whole story, the two parties have said that it has been a matter of numbers.
"The management of the last years hasn't helped, but history shows that we will get up."
- Giacomo Pisa
SIGN HIM UP
Jose Fonte has revealed to talkSPORT that he's been trying to get Cristiano Ronaldo to sign for Lille so he can line up against Lionel Messi in Ligue 1.
Lille won a shock Ligue 1 title last season, ending PSG's run of seven title wins in eight years prior to that.
But with Messi set to be announced as a PSG player tomorrow morning, Les Parisiens will be heavy favourites to reclaim the title they gave up to Lille.
When asked about Messi's move, the former Southampton defender said: "I feel great. I feel great because it's incredible to hear a player like Lionel Messi is in French football in our league.
"It's exciting. Obviously in terms of competitors it's going to be even harder for us but we're up for a challenge – I'm texting Cristiano to come to Lille every day! He's only replied 'ha ha ha.'"
- Giacomo Pisa
ANOTHER ONE
Yep and here's another one from PSG's Twitter account.
They're absolutely loving this.
- Giacomo Pisa
TWITTER TEASER
Here's the latest teaser video released by PSG regarding Lionel Messi.
It's off the printing machine in the club shop, with shirts seemingly being readied for Messi's name and number on the back.
It's not yet clear what number the 34-year-old will take, with Neymar currently occupying Messi's favoured number ten shirt at the Parc des Princes.
- Giacomo Pisa
CONTRACT EXTENSION?
Kylian Mbappe could sign a new deal at PSG after Lionel Messi's arrival in Paris, according to Sky Sport's Dharmesh Sheth.
Mbappe's PSG contract runs out at the end of the season, but Sheth thinks the 22-year-old could be tempted to sign a new contract due to the statement of intent that signing Lionel Messi is.
The French international was rumoured to be open to a move away from the Parc des Princes, but Messi's arrival could change that.
- Giacomo Pisa
BEST OF FRIENDS
Lionel Messi was reportedly considering a sensational reunion with ex-Barcelona pal Luis Suarez at Atletico Madrid, JUSTIN LAWRENCE reports.
Atletico allegedly approached the Argentine in a last-minute bid to steal him from Paris Saint-Germain's clutches, according to Ignacio Miguélez.
The LaLiga champions' boss Diego Simeone directly contacted Messi himself to try and complete a deal, Miguelez claims.
And he also alleges that the 34-year-old and his family were tempted to take up Simeone's offer.
If fellow Argentine Simeone had managed to complete his proposed Messi coup, it would've seen him link up with Suarez at the Metropolitano Stadium.
FULL STORY
- Giacomo Pisa
LEO'S LOWDOWN
Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci doesn't think Lionel Messi's transfer to PSG impacted Cristiano Ronaldo in any way.
Ronaldo, who is in the last 12 months of his Juve contract, has been linked to a move to PSG in the last year.
But Messi's arrival in Paris eliminates any chances of that move happening.
And Leonardo Bonucci, a Euro 2020 winner with Italy, think Ronaldo would have stayed in Turin regardless of Messi's move.
He told Gazetto dello Sport: "I think that Cristiano would have stayed even if Messi had not gone to PSG."
"For us, it's an added value and I'm sure that this year, more than in past years, he will help us reach all of our goals.
- Giacomo Pisa
MESSI'S MAGIC
Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez is confident his Argentina teammate Lionel Messi will be the top scorer in Ligue 1 next season.
The 28-year-old shotstopper enjoyed a stellar campaign at Villa Park last season after moving from Arsenal, and claims that the Argentina captain has made him improve his game.
He told Sky Sports: "He made me a better goalkeeper. That’s the reality. It was a shock for everyone. No-one knew he was going to go there.
"Maybe it would be good for him to have a new challenge. They have some South American and Argentinian players there.
"I have no doubt he will be the goalscorer in the French league and hopefully win the Champions League. It’s a player who can do it all."
- Giacomo Pisa
MESSI CELEBRATIONS
Fans gather at the Parc des Princes in Paris to celebrate Lionel Messi's arrival, with one fan tracking the Argentinian's private jet on its approach to the French capital.
Over 100,000 people were tracking Lionel Messi’s flight from Barcelona, flight tracking website Flightradar24 revealed.
- Giacomo Pisa
MESSI MEDICAL
Lionel Messi's PSG medical is DONE, according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.
PSG have called a press conference for 10am (UK time) tomorrow morning, where fans of Les Parisiens will be able to hear from their new signing for the first time.
- Giacomo Pisa
LINK-UP
In Neymar's four seasons at Barcelona, the Brazilian forward and Lionel Messi assisted one another for 26 goals in LaLiga.
And now Neymar is joined by his friend Messi at PSG the pair are set to join forces once again in what is a formidable PSG side.
And don't forget Kylian Mbappe too!
- Giacomo Pisa
DRESSING ROOM VIEW
There's another hourly update from the PSG Twitter account.
They've posted a video of an Argentinian flag in the dressing room at the Parc des Princes, in between Neymar and Kylian Mbappe's places.
Does that mean Messi is going to take either the number eight or nine shirt?
- Giacomo Pisa
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FAVOURITES?
PSG could finally end their quest for the Champions League title this season with their fearsome forward line.
They've got the four most creative players in the Champions League from the last five years in their squad!
- Giacomo Pisa
NO MORE MESSI
Lionel Messi's picture is removed from outside the Camp Nou after his move to PSG has been confirmed.
He leaves the Catalan club after after 778 games, which included 672 goals and 305 assists.
- Giacomo Pisa
MESSI MEDICAL
Lionel Messi en route to his PSG medical in a Presidential style convoy.
- Giacomo Pisa
POGB-OFF
Lionel Messi’s arrival at PSG means the French club are unlikely to make an offer for Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba this summer.
That’s according to Sky Sports, who report that the Parisians would need to sell or loan around 10 players to fund a move.
The 28-year-old is into the final year of his contract at Old Trafford, and is free to sign a pre-contract agreement with European clubs from January 1.
But Pogba is said to be looking forward to the season ahead at Manchester United, and his representatives are still in talks with Red Devils bosses regarding a new deal.
- Giacomo Pisa
FULL CAPACITY
And Lionel Messi is set to be unveiled, or could even PLAY in PSG's first home match of their 2021/22 Ligue 1 season.
The French giants welcome Strasbourg on Saturday, and announced yesterday that they would be able to welcome a full capacity for the first time in 18 months.
The Parisians will have 47,900 fans packed into the Parc des Princes to try and catch a glimpse of their new superstar.
- Giacomo Pisa
PLANE TRACKER
Over 100,000 people were tracking Lionel Messi's flight from Barcelona to Paris, flight tracking website Flightradar24 have revealed.
Over 50,000 people were following the Bombardier Global 7500 plane as it neared Paris, but that number doubled to over 100,000 as the private jet touched down in the French capital.
- Giacomo Pisa
NO NUMBER RETIREMENT
Barcelona will never retire the No10 shirt to honour Lionel Messi – because of a bonkers Spanish football law, JOSHUA JONES reports.
Spanish FA rules state LaLiga teams must assign their 25-man squads the numbers 1 to 25.
Goalkeepers either wear 1, 13 or 25 while reserve players brought into the first team can have 26 to 50.
But should Barcelona retire Messi's No10, they would sacrifice a place in their squad for the 2021-22 season.
- Giacomo Pisa
MORE MESSI CONTENT
The PSG Twitter account are loving this, and why wouldn't they?
They've signed the six-time Ballon d'Or winner, and if people didn't know Messi had won that award six times then they do now, with PSG tweeting a picture of six Ballon d'Or trophies in front of the Eiffel Tower.
- Giacomo Pisa
SHORT AND SWEET
Lionel Messi's father and agent Jorge isn't much of a talker it seems.
When asked at Barcelona's El Praet airport if his son was joining PSG, Jorge simply said "Yes," and on whether Messi was said to be leaving he said: "Didn't you see him?"
Then when asked who's fault it was that he was leaving, Jorge said: "Ask the club."
No messing around.
- Giacomo Pisa
PRESS CONFERENCE CALLED
PSG have announced a press conference for 10am tomorrow morning.
What will that one be about then?
- Giacomo Pisa
MIND BOGGLING
How's that for a wage bill!
Here's a look at the top earners at PSG, with Lionel Messi going straight into the number one slot by quite some distance.
- Lionel Messi – £650,000 a week
- Neymar – £490,000 a week
- Kylian Mbappe – £310,000 a week
- Marquinhos – £250,000 a week
- Marco Verratti – £235,000 a week
- Angel Di Maria – £235,000 a week
- Keylor Navas – £210,000 a week
- Gianluigi Donnarumma – £200,000 a week
- Sergio Ramos – £200,000 a week
- Presnel Kimpembe – £175,000 a week
- Mauro Icardi – £170,000 a week
- Georginio Wijnaldum – £160,000 a week
- Achraf Hakimi – £160,000 a week
WHERE ARE YOU?
This really does feel like a 'where were you moment?' doesn't it.
It's a day that will go down in football history.
After 778 games, which included 672 goals and 305 assists, Lionel Messi is no longer a Barcelona player.
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