Lionel Messi had his first training session with PSG on Thursday (Twitter) |
Much has been made of Messi joining a team that includes
Brazil's Neymar and France striker Kylian Mbappé in what will be a fearsome
offensive line for PSG in their quest to win their first Champions League since
1993.
World Cup winner Mbappé was one of the first to extend his
welcome to Messi after his official arrival, with the 22-year-old posting his
best wishes to the newcomer on social media.
"Welcome to Paris, Leo," Mbappé wrote, alongside
photos of the pair hugging.
Mbappé has been linked with a move to Real Madrid with only
a year left of his PSG contract.
Messi, 34, has been on downtime since winning the Copa
America with Argentina in July, and started his first PSG session with some
simple physical exercises.
"I've been out of action for around [a] month and I
need to get physically ready. I hope to be ready as soon as possible, because I
can't wait to play," Messi said at his unveiling at the Parc des Princes
on Wednesday.
But he is unlikely to make his debut for PSG this weekend
when Mauricio Pochettino's team play Strasbourg in Ligue 1.
"I can't tell you when my first game will be but I can
tell you I'm dying to get started," he said. "I want it to be
soon."
Messi only arrived in the French capital on Tuesday before
penning a two-year contract with the option of a third season.
The club also revealed Thursday it had paid Messi a signing
bonus in PSG's own virtual currency, $PSG Fan Tokens, which originally sold at
€2 each and are currently trading at over €30 each.
"The coins are there to create a link between the fans
and the club, and it's the first time we have used them in this way," PSG
said in a statement.
Confirming an earlier Reuters report, PSG said the tokens
were included in Messi's "welcome package", which media reports have
estimated at €25-30 million ($29-35 million). The club did not disclose the
proportion of tokens in the pay package, but said the amount was
"significant".
Fan tokens are a type of cryptocurrency that allow holders
to vote on mostly minor decisions related to their clubs. Among clubs to launch
tokens this year are English Premier League champions Manchester City and
Italy's AC Milan. Messi's former club Barcelona launched one last year.
PSG quickly emerged as the favourites to sign Messi
following the shock of his departure from Barcelona last week and he arrives
eyeing a fifth Champions League, with the most recent of his four victories
with his old club coming in 2015.
Messi will wear the No. 30 jersey at PSG, with fans already
lining up outside the club's different shops in the capital to buy the shirt
that sports his name and number on the back.
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