Paris; its Eiffel Tower; the Arc de Triomphe; the Louvre museum … and Lionel Messi: Rosario’s son; who has grow to be a celebrity with the FC Barcelona shirt; is making ready to put in writing to Paris Saint -Germain a novel chapter of his legend.
Blue and pink jerseys on the again; outstretched telephones and fireworks launched into the sky: Paris Saint-Germain followers gathered on Tuesday; August 10; within the French capital to welcome the Argentine soccer star. In fore of Le Bourget airport; the place the airplane of the previous FC Barcelona participant landed; a number of hundred individuals awaited the arrival of the six-fold Ballon d’Or. Some had already been there the day prior.
A dinky prior 4 within the afternoon; a chill ran by means of the already heated meeting. One of many airport home windows was opened. Messi appeared; made a gesture along with his hand; smiling fortunately; carrying a flocked shirt with the well-known “Right here is Paris.” Fireworks crackled; smoke ignited; the group chanted their hero’s identify.
Lionel Messi is gone as quick as he appeared. Hopes of seeing him obtain again into his automobile have been dashed and the group slowly dispersed; as some followers chanted and laughed. “Merci Nasser”; in tribute to the Qatari president of the Parisian membership; Nasser Al-Khelaïfi.
“As soon as in life”
On the entrance to the Parc des Princes; followers flocked to the pink carpet on the VIP entrance. One in every of them got here to juggle the cheers. Inspired by an Argentine tv journalist; dozens of younger individuals leaning towards the limitations started to drum plastic; additionally singing: “Right here is Paris!”
For the “Flea” as for the Catalan membership; it’s the finish of a wedding of 21 years. The participant stated goodbye on Sunday at a press convention that began with tears; the place he recalled that his three kids have been as Catalan as they have been Argentine. When his idol Diego Maradona was God in Naples as in Buenos Aires; he’s overhead all an icon “blaugrana”; far more than “albiceleste”.
He made Barça develop in addition to immense. So gigantic that the insignificant ahead who spins within the six Ballon d’Or; whom many think about the most effective in historical past; has grow to be too gigantic for a deeply indebted establishment; unable to pay the wage of the planetary star; even when he claimed to maintain agreed to cleave it in half.
“I maintain not seen anybody like him”
Maybe solely the Dutch Johan Cruyff has gathered such a worldwide aura and Catalan roots. One other level in widespread between the 2: prior returning to Barcelona as a thriving coach; the Dutchman had not completed his taking part in profession with the blue and maroon jersey both.
“Will probably be hard to see him with one other shirt that isn’t Barça’s. He has seen every thing at Barça. He’s a participant who transcends. I maintain not seen any like him.”His illustrious previous associate Andrés Iniesta admitted to AFP.
At 34; Messi is not the daft younger man who reviewed the defenders on the grounds of Spain and Europe; similar to his slalom towards Getafe on April 18; 2007; two years in the past chosen essentially the most magnificent objective in historical past of the membership by the members. . Nevertheless; the dinky ahead continues to be a dribbling machine; targets and data.
“Greater than a participant”
He’s nonetheless the highest scorer within the historical past of Barça (672 targets in 778 video games); La Liga; the most effective scorer in a calendar yr (91 in 2012) or the participant who received essentially the most trophies with Barcelona; together with 4 Champions League titles. (2006; 2009; 2011; 2015).
The spectacular pixie additionally collected six Ballons d’Or; higher than Cristiano Ronaldo (5); Cruyff; Michel Platini; Marco Van Basten (3).
Past the numbers; the Argentinean leaves an indelible reminiscence to the Catalan followers; particularly through the “Clásicos” towards Actual Madrid; from his triplet from 2007 to 6-2 inflicted on rival Madrid at dwelling in 2009 by means of the “Manita” (5-0) triumphed the next yr on the Camp Nou.
Barcelona maintain typically relied on the prodigy who arrived in 2000 and began as knowledgeable in 2004; even when he was surrounded by immense gamers; from Eto’o to Suárez to Xavi; Iniesta or Neymar. All through the years; FC Barcelona; which claims to be “Greater than a membership”; he bumped into the load of this attacker who grew to become “greater than a participant”. An bad that has a reputation in Catalonia: the “Messi dependancy”.
Messi; who lives in Castelldefels; an unique suburb of Barcelona; appeared to maintain discovered a steadiness in Catalonia; however now it’s with one other shirt that he’ll attempt to unfold his legend. In Paris; it will likely be with the goal of providing his novel businessman his first Champions League. The fifth for him.
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