- Title: 'Joy' and 'pride': PSG fans in awe after Messi signing
- Date: 11th August 2021
- Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (AUGUST 11, 2021) (REUTERS) MESSI ON STAGE GIVING THUMBS UP TO FANS FANS BANGING ON PSG BARRIER MESSI THROWING JERSEY IN CROWD MESSI LOOKING ON AS FANS CHEER AND HOLD FLARES MESSI WALKING BESIDE PLATFORM, CLOSE TO FANS, WAVING FANS BANGING ON BARRIER IN FRONT OF STADIUM (SOUNDBITE) (French) PARIS SAINT GERMAIN FAN FROM NORMANDY, BRICE, SAYING: "Barcelona has lost its child prodigy but then it is only happiness (for us)." VARIOUS OF FANS CHEERING AND CLAPPING WITH BANNER AND FLARES FANS IN FRONT OF STADIUM (SOUNDBITE) (French) PARIS SAINT GERMAIN FAN, RAPHAEL NOUFELE, SAYING: "How could I say that? It's incredible, he is the best player in the world in my opinion and seeing him with the PSG, at the Parc des Princes, is magnificent. It is a lot of joy, a lot of pride." MESSI JERSEYS IN STORE PEOPLE IN LINE TO ENTER STORE MAN SHOWING MESSI SHIRT HE BOUGHT (SOUNDBITE) (French) PARIS SAINT GERMAIN FAN, RAPHAEL NOUFELE, SAYING: "It (winning the Champions League) is our goal. In 2020, it was the PSG's first final. In 2021, we got to the semi. So, yes, our goal is to reach the final and win it. The QSI (Qatar Sports Investments) has been there for 10 years, so, yes, we want it. We want the star (symbolising a victory). We want the star." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE IN LINE FAMILY COMING OUT OF STORE FANS OUTSIDE OF STADIUM
- Embargoed: 25th August 2021 13:54
- Keywords: Barcelona Champions League Lionel Messi PSG Parc des Princes Paris fans jersey presentation stadium transfer
- Location: PARIS, FRANCE
- City: PARIS, FRANCE
- Country: France
- Topics: Europe,Soccer,Sport,Editors' Choice
- Reuters ID: LVA001EPU679J
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Newly signed Paris Saint Germain soccer star Lionel Messi was presented to fans along with his new jersey at the club's stadium on Wednesday (August 11).
Messi waved at fans, gave a thumbs-up and threw his jersey into the crowd of delighted fans who cheered his name.
"Barcelona has lost its child prodigy but then it is only happiness (for us)," fan Brice, who came from Normandy to witness Messi's arrival, told Reuters.
Members of the Collectif Ultras Paris group had been waiting all morning near the Parc des Princes stadium, chanting, waving giant flags and lighting up flares to celebrate their team's latest acquisition.
Lionel Messi joined star-packed Paris Saint Germain on Tuesday after leaving Barcelona, the club where he had begun and was expected to end his career.
The six-times winner of the Ballon d'Or for Europe's best soccer player signed a two-year contract with an option for a third year, the club said in a statement on its website.
He told journalists on Wednesday that his dream was to win another Champions League title, one that has long eluded Paris Saint-Germain.
Messi's fans share his dream: "(Winning the Champions League) is our goal. In 2020, it was the PSG's first final. In 2021, we got to the semi. So, yes, our goal is to reach the final and win it," fan Raphael Noufele said.
The move will add the Argentine, one of the best players of his generation, to an already formidable PSG attack that includes Brazil's Neymar and French World Cup winner Kylian Mbappe.
(Production: Clotaire Achi, Manuel Ausloos) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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