Paris (AFP)
Hours of uncertainty in front of the Barcelona home of Argentine superstar Lionel Messi until the officialization of the transfer by PSG, through his triumphant welcome in the capital, story of a crazy day.
- The calm before the storm -
In front of Lionel Messi's villa in Castelldefels on Monday, the media are stamping their feet.
Since the day before, the cameras are installed, the journalists try to capture the slightest movement, in vain.
Will leave, will not leave?
In the evening of Monday, the Argentinian was filmed walking quietly in a swimsuit, with his friend Luis Suarez.
A calm that contrasts with the media feverishness around the transfer of the "Pulga", which will therefore spend one more night in Barcelona despite rumors announcing it occasionally on a plane.
Around noon Tuesday, four black vehicles leave the property.
Direction the airport.
- Arrival of the Messi clan at the airport -
Jorge Messi, father and agent of the brilliant Argentinian, is the first to confirm the transfer of his son to PSG.
Arrived at Barcelona-El-Prat airport at 12:41 pm, he replied with a laconic "yes" to a journalist who asked him the question.
Who is responsible for the divorce?
"Ask the club," he replies.
Lionel Messi greets PSG supporters from the lounges at Le Bourget airport, just after his landing, August 10, 2021 Sameer Al-DOUMY AFP
At the same time, the portrait of the player, surrounded by Gérard Piqué and Antoine Griezmann, is removed from the facades of Camp Nou, the stadium where he built his legend.
Shortly before 2:00 p.m., the four black cars arrive at the airport, Messi's family comes out and then the player himself, who does not say a word.
- Messi flies away -
Shortly after, just before take-off, the player's wife, Antonella Roccuzzo, posted a photo on Instagram showing her sitting on the plane with her husband, accompanied by the caption "A new adventure begins together every five", referring to their family.
Shortly after 2:00 p.m., the private plane, a Bombardier Global 7500, took off.
A thousand kilometers further north, supporters are gathered at Le Bourget airport, around the Parc des Princes, and in front of the club's headquarters.
The lines stretch out in front of the official store while the progress of flight VJT783 is followed minute by minute on the specialized sites: Périgueux, Poitiers, Loches, Chartres ... Le Bourget.
Parisian supporters in front of the Parc des Princes in Paris, August 10, 2021, in the hope of welcoming Lionel Messi, the new recruit of PSG Zakaria ABDELKAFI AFP
- 3:31 p.m., the plane lands -
At 3.31 p.m., a little less than 1.5 hours after taking off, the plane carrying Messi and his family landed on the tarmac at Paris airport.
Dressed in a white "Here is Paris" t-shirt, Lionel Messi appears at the window and greets the hundreds of supporters who cheer him on.
An unthinkable image a few weeks ago.
At the same time in front of the Parc des Princes, other fans stamping with impatience sing songs in honor of the Argentinian.
- PSG fan the flame -
Barely has Messi landed that PSG publish on social networks a short 13-second video full of references to the striker's career, such as his six Golden Balls and the Argentinian flag, placed between the jerseys. by Neymar and Kylian Mbappé.
Hundreds of PSG supporters at Le Bourget airport on August 10, 2021, in the hope of welcoming Lionel Messi Sameer Al-DOUMY AFP
Neymar, Messi's teammate at Barça between 2013 and 2017, is delighted on Instagram of his arrival.
"New reunited", writes the Brazilian, accompanied by a video showing them hugging during their Catalan period.
- Installation -
While his family takes up residence at the Royal Monceau, in the beautiful Parisian districts, Lionel Messi begins the compulsory course of new recruits.
After a stop at the American hospital of Neuilly-sur-Seine for a medical examination, his convoy, escorted by many police officers, takes the direction of the Parc des Princes, where it rushes into the parking lot around 7.20 pm.
He stays there very little before leaving.
Not without being briefly out of his vehicle to greet the supporters who came to cheer him on.
What he repeats around 8:00 p.m. in front of the Royal Monceau, before joining his clan for his first night in Paris.
Lionel Messi greets PSG supporters from the balcony of the Parisian palace Le Royal Monceau, where his family has settled, on August 10, 2021 Sameer Al-DOUMY AFP
- Officialization -
In the evening, the sun has already set when Paris Saint-Germain formalizes the arrival of the "Pulga" for two seasons with an additional year as an option.
What was still unthinkable at the start of the summer has therefore happened: Messi will play in Ligue 1.
However, he abandons his favorite number, the leader's 10, for the 30. That of his debut at FC Barcelona, the beginning of the happiness of Parisian supporters.
© 2021 AFP