- Title: Fans rush to buy Messi shirt as PSG brand looks to soar
- Date: 11th August 2021
- Summary: CUSTOMERS
- Embargoed: 25th August 2021 14:39
- Keywords: Messi PSG shirt
- Location: PARIS, FRANCE
- City: PARIS, FRANCE
- Country: France
- Topics: Europe,Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA004EPU3T53
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Jerseys branded with his name are flying off the shelves, followers are flocking to his new club's social media by the millions, and TV rights suddenly look much cheaper - many stand to gain from Lionel Messi's arrival at Paris St Germain.
Putting it bluntly, PSG chairman Nasser al-Khelaifi told a news conference on Wednesday (August 11) that people would be "shocked" by the financial revenues the 34-year-old would bring to the club.
In PSG's flagship shop in central Paris, a fan that queued two hours to spend 165 euros on a Messi T-shirt hours as soon as the Argentine signed with the club certainly thought so.
"I just had to come and buy it," 18-year old Jonathan Bouyer Msied said, beaming. "It will bring PSG a lot of money, and it will bring fans a lot of fun and joy. There's something in it for everyone, and everybody will be happy."
Amazon, which in June won the rights to broadcast the main TV rights for the French soccer league at a fraction of the price they initially cost and now has Messi to show for, is certainly among those winners, said sports marketing expert Vincent Chaudel.
"The big winner is obviously Amazon, which already got its early Christmas present in June and now just won the lottery," said Chaudel. "The second winner is PSG, which will consolidate its spot among the world's biggest clubs."
In the eyes of the fans, back at the club's shop, it's already a dream come true.
"I had to come and buy the shirt so that it feels real, to know it's true, that it's not just all in our head," 25-year old Wallys Nkamen Nana said.
(Production: Yiming Woo) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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