Lionel Messi to PSG LIVE: Argentinian in Paris to confirm switch, Lukaku set for Chelsea return – transfer news

LIONEL MESSI is in Paris with his move to PSG set to be confirmed by the club.

The French giants are set to unveil the Argentinian superstar imminently, with Messi signing a bumper two-year deal at the Ligue 1 club.

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

    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.

    • Etienne Fermie

      MESSI ARRIVES

      There he is, ladies and gentlemen.

      Lionel Messi has arrived in Paris and has waved to adoring fans.

      Expect things to accelerate very quickly now.

    • Etienne Fermie

      IT'S OFFICIAL

      It's happened… Lionel Messi is a PSG player!

      The full announcement from the French giants is imminent.

    • Etienne Fermie

      NEY MORE DOUBT

      Neymar has confirmed the signing of Lionel Messi on Instagram.

      For so long the Brazilian wanted to reunite with his Argentine pal at Barcelona.

      But it is in Paris that the pair will once again link up, with Messi currently on the way to the French capital to finalise a deal.

    • Etienne Fermie

      FAN-DEMONIUM

      Paris Saint-Germain are experiencing a surge of popularity ahead of Lionel Messi's highly-anticipated arrival at the club.

      With the Argentine on his way to the French capital to finalise a deal, fans are already taking a keen interest in the Ligue 1 club's fortunes as they flock to follow their social media pages.

      According to L'Equipe, over a million new accounts are following PSG's Instagram pages, with 200,000 hopping on the bandwagon via Facebook.

      Add in their newly-accrued Twitter and YouTube fans and the club has an extra 1.4 million followers in only three days.

      In particular, PSG's Spanish language Twitter page has seen a surge of followers as LaLiga viewers turn their attention to Ligue 1.

    • Etienne Fermie

      'NEW ADVENTURE'

      Lionel Messi's wife Antonela Roccuzzo has posted a selfie of herself and her hubby on the plane to Paris as they depart for their 'new adventure'.

      Messi, 34, is set to sign a two-year deal with Paris Saint-Germain this afternoon.

      Credit: Instagram @antonelaroccuzzo
    • Etienne Fermie

      PS-GLEE

      Paris Saint-Germain fans have congregated at Parc des Princes in the hope of catching a glimpse of Lionel Messi.

      They'll have to wait a little longer, however, as he isn't due to touch down in the French capital until around 2pm.

      Excited PSG fans are awaiting Messi's arrivalCredit: AFP
    • Etienne Fermie

      PARIS CALLING

      Lionel Messi has arrived at Barcelona Airport alongside wife Antonela and their children to travel to Paris this afternoon.

      The Argentine is set to finalise his two-year, £650,000-a-week transfer to the French giants.

      It is expected that the deal will be officially confirmed tomorrow.

      Lionel Messi has arrived at Barcelona AirportCredit: Reuters
    • Etienne Fermie

      CITY OF LOVE

      PSG have agreed to sign Lionel Messi.

      And the Argentine has arrived at Barcelona Airport to fly to Paris.

      His father Jorge told La Sexta: "Yes, Leo’s gonna sign with Paris Saint-Germain today."

      It's really happening!

    • Etienne Fermie

      NO MESSING

      Lionel Messi has reportedly agreed a two-year deal with Paris Saint-Germain with the player to jet into France in the coming hours.

      The 34-year-old revealed on Sunday that a move to join Les Parisiens was a possibility when discussing his exit from Barcelona in a press conference.

      And now the transfer is on the verge of being announced with the Argentine legend offered an initial contract until 2023 worth £30million-a-year.

      Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano tweeted: "Lionel Messi joins PSG… HERE WE GO!

      "Total agreement completed on a two-years contract. Option to extend until June 2024.

      "Salary around €35m [£30m] net per season add-ons included.

      "Messi has definitely accepted PSG contract proposal and will be in Paris in the next hours."

      French outlet L'Equipe have also confirmed the news, as they state that Messi is due to arrive in Paris on this afternoon.

    • Etienne Fermie

      CANAR-SPREE

      Norwich City have completed the signing of Werder Bremen striker Josh Sargent for £8million.

      The 21-year-old, penned a four-year contract with the Premier League new-boys last night, Sky Sports reported.

      His firepower will be welcomed at the club as he scored seven goals for Bremen last season in all competitions and snagged two in their opening game of this term, last weekend.

      Upon Sargent's arrival to the Carrow Road Stadium, which Norwich revealed on Twitter, he said that it's always been his dream to star in the Prem.

      While speaking to Canaries.co.uk, he said: "I've always wanted to play in the Premier League, so it's a very exciting opportunity for me.

      "I heard it's a good group of guys and I talked with the head coach already and I really like what they're trying to do here."

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