Messi gets the welcome he deserves from PSG fans
Lionel Messi gets a first proper taste of his new home as he is presented to a full stadium of Paris Saint-Germain fans before watching his team-mates beat Strasbourg 4-2 in Ligue 1 with Kylian Mbappe playing a starring role.
PGS's latest signing joined four other recruits as they were presented to some 49,000 fans at Parc des Princes before kickoff.
In a scene which few could have predicted even recently, former Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos applauded Messi, a former Barcelona nemesis, as he joined him on the podium.
Italy's Euro 2020 star goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, Netherlands captain Georginio Wijnaldum, and former Inter Milan right back Achraf Hakimi were all given loud ovations. But nothing compared to the huge one reserved for the four-time Champions League winner.
Messi joined PSG on a two-year deal this week after his new deal with Barcelona sensationally collapsed and left him in tears while PSG moved quickly.
The Parc des Princes opens for the first time at full capacity (47,900 places) since the end of February 2020, before the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
34-year-old Leo Messi, both upon his arrival on Tuesday, and during his presentation to the press on Wednesday, was met with loud cheers from fans of the club, who even gathered at the training center on Thursday and Friday to try to see the six-time Ballon d'Or winner.
