LIONEL MESSI revealed Barcelona tried to sign Marco Verratti for ‘many seasons’.
Messi will instead play alongside the Italian midfielder at Paris Saint-Germain – rather than at the Nou Camp.
The superstar Argentine, 34, addressed the media this morning as he was unveiled as a PSG player following his free transfer after leaving Barca.
But during the press conference, he admitted his former side had tried to lure Verratti to Spain time and time again.
Messi said: “Marco has shown that he is a huge player, one of the best in the world in his position.
“In Barcelona, we wanted him for many seasons.
“In the end, it’s me who comes to play with him at Paris. It’s a phenomenon.”
Verratti, 28, broke through at Pescara before joining PSG in 2012.
He has racked up 346 games for the club across nine seasons so far – with 28 trophies.
And the Euro 2020 winner will be confident of adding more trophies this season now he is playing alongside the six-time Ballon d’Or winner who he met up with on holiday in Ibiza last week.
‘INCREDIBLE TEAM’
Messi expressed his excitement at joining up with his new team-mates and repeatedly insisted he was in Paris to win silverware.
Asked about playing alongside Neymar and Mbappe, the new No30 said: “It’s crazy. I am very happy sharing day to day life with them and all the squad.
“Really there are some amazing transfers – the team is incredible.
“I want to train and compete now because I’m going to be playing with the best players in the world and that’s always good.”
Messi continued: “Neymar did a lot and was important in my decision. Neymar and I know each other very well.
“I hope we will be stronger together and with all our team-mates.
“I know a lot of the players from Argentina: Di Maria, Paredes etc.
PRICE BOOST – GET CHELSEA AT 8/1 OR VILLARREAL AT 33/1
FREE BETS BONUS: GET £180 IN FREE BETS FOR CHELSEA vs VILLARREAL
DREAM TEAM 2021/22
PLAY DREAM TEAM FOR THE 2021/22 SEASON
- £100,000 prize pot up for grabs
- £50million budget to build your best XI
- Play in Mini Leagues against your mates, colleagues, etc
- Click here to play for FREE
- Dream Team app available through Apple Store and Google Play Store
“I know the coach Mauricio Pochettino very well. The fact that he is Argentinian helped from the start, it was important in my decision making.
“I am impatient. I still want to win trophies, we can fight for them, that’s why I have come here.
“It’s all been crazy, my arrival – it was a surprise. I’ve never experienced anything like this.”
DREAM TEAM IS BACK! SIGN UP NOW FOR THE 21/22 SEASON WITH £100,000 PRIZE POT UP FOR GRABS
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
