Messi signs with PSG: What we can expect from him next

After a whirlwind few days, Lionel Messi officially signed with French club Paris Saint-Germain. Here’s what we can expect from the Argentine superstar going forward. 

Bienvenue, Lionel!

Lionel Messi is officially gone from Barcelona and now a member of PSG after signing a two-year deal with the club.

The agreement, which was officially reached on Tuesday, includes an option for a third season, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press.

The move by the 34-year-old striker was no surprise given that few clubs could afford Messi’s price tag. Funded by Qatari sovereign wealth, PSG has a star-studded roster going into this season. The team includes Brazilian striker Neymar, a former teammate of Messi’s at Barcelona, and French winger Kylian Mbappe.

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The six-time Ballon d’Or winner, and Copa America champion with Argentina just last month, now joins what is considered the best front three in the world. Messi left Barca because of what the club said were “financial and structural obstacles.” As a result, that makes PSG a top contender to win their first Champions League in history.

Check out Lionel Messi PSG gear now available at Fanatics.

With the signing official, here’s what we can expect from Messi going forward.

Messi will play on the right as part of the front three at PSG

Messi, a playmaker, has traditionally drifted to the right. He’s very likely to play in that very same position with either Neymar on the right or as a center forward. Neymar and Mbappe, who prefers to play on the wings, could alternate in that position.

PSG manager Mauricio Pochettino likes to use a 4-3-3 formation so a front three with Messi in it isn’t too much different from what he had at Barca. The big difference in Paris is that Mbappe is a magnificent finisher. That means Messi has some options here whenever he gets the ball. He can provide assists for the French star or bang in a few himself.

Getting along with Neymar

This can be a touchy subject. Neymar, who wears the No. 10 jersey at PSG, left Barcelona in 2017, in part, because he wanted to be the big man on whatever team he played for. That was never going to happen at Barca as long as Messi was there.

Four years later, the two are reunited and it doesn’t necessarily have to feel so good. It could add some problems to the dressing room and it will be up to Pochettino to manage egos. In public, however, Neymar has always sang Messi’s praises and appears genuinely happy to have him as a teammate again.

Finally win the Champions League

PSG has spent lots of money in order to win the Champions League. It hasn’t worked, despite reaching the final as recently as last year, but that could change by the end of this season.

For PSG, winning the league just isn’t enough and doesn’t justify the expense. The Champions League has proven tricky for clubs that spend a lot of money like Manchester City.

Messi, a four-time Champions League winner, does bring lots of experience to this PSG side and is now part of a devastating attack. There can potentially be lots more glory in his future. It remains to be seen if this entire investment project will bring with it European glory.