Lionel Messi hails 'new moment of my life' as he joins PSG amid fan excitement
ITV News Correspondent Geraint Vincent reports on Lionel Messi's move to PSG
Arguably the world's greatest player, Lionel Messi sent reverberations around the footballing world when it was announced he was leaving Barcelona after 21 years at the Catalan club.
At a highly anticipated press conference at the Parc de Princes in the French capital on Wednesday morning, Messi said he was impatient to start work on the task of winning trophies with his new club PSG.“I am very happy. You all know about my exit from Barcelona and it has been a very hard moment after so many years. It was a difficult change after so long a time,” he told reporters.
“But the moment I arrived here I felt very happy and I really want to begin the training sessions, I want it to be quick.
“My only will now is to begin the training sessions, I want to work with the staff and team-mates and begin this new moment of my life."
He went on to say that he has considered the prospect of having to face Barcelona if PSG are drawn against them in the Champions League.
“Barcelona is my home, I have been there since I was a kid and I’ve lived so many things there,” added the Argentina international.
“I don’t know if we are going to face each other – it would be very nice to go back to Barcelona.
“It will be very strange to play at home there in Barcelona with another shirt but it can happen and we will see.”
Messi told the conference that he has thought about the possibility of PSG clashing against Barcelona in the Champions League
The 34-year-old also said former Barcelona teammate Neymar was a significant factor in his decision to join Mauricio Pochettino's PSG, who finished second to Lille in Ligue 1 last season.
“It’s really crazy and I’m very happy sharing with them [Neymar and Mbappe],” Messi told the media.
“There have been some amazing transfers, the team is incredible. I just want to train, I’m playing with some of the best players in the world."
But Neymar and Mbappe were not the only one who was excited to welcome the Argentina superstar to a new European home.
The queue outside PSG's official club shop contained thousands of fans flooding the streets of the French capital to welcome his arrival.
Pictures show the football ace throw a team jersey into a crowd of PSG supporters gathered outside the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris.
On Tuesday, waiting fans erupted with joy after Messi appeared at a Paris airport window to wave at them following completion of the transfer.
Supporters also filmed the police motorcade taking Messi to American Hospital in Neuilly-sur-Seine, Paris, for his medical assessment.
PSG fans erupted with joy on Tuesday when Lionel Messi appeared at a Paris airport window
Barcelona is the only club Messi has played for, having joined as a 13-year-old and leaving aged 34 after playing his part in the capture of 35 trophies.
Messi’s Barca career drew to a close 12 months after he had asked to leave, but was prevented from doing so by a 700million Euros release clause – around £629million – in his contract.
The Spanish club could not afford a new deal under La Liga's financial fair play rules.