Messi meets teammates at 1st PSG training session
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After a rapturous reception and raucous unveiling from the fans on Wednesday Lionel Messi got to know his new teammates at Paris Saint-Germain鈥檚 Camp des Loges training facility yesterday.
Much has been made of Messi lining up with Brazil鈥檚 Neymar and France striker Kylian Mbappe in what will be a fearsome attack for PSG in its quest to win a maiden UEFA Champions League.
World Cup winner Mbappe was one of the first to extend his welcome to Messi after his official arrival and the 22-year-old posted his best wishes to the newcomer on social media.
Mbappe has been linked with a move to Real Madrid with only a year left of his PSG contract.
鈥淲elcome to Paris, Leo,鈥 Mbappe wrote alongside photos with the pair hugging.
The 34-year-old former Barcelona player has been resting since winning the Copa America with Argentina in July, and started his first PSG run-out with simple physical exercises.
鈥淚鈥檝e been out of action for around a month and I need to get physically ready. I hope to be ready as soon as possible, because I can鈥檛 wait to play,鈥 Messi said at his unveiling at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday.
He is unlikely to make his debut for PSG soon, and certainly not this weekend when Mauricio Pochettino鈥檚 team plays Strasbourg in Ligue 1.
鈥淚 can鈥檛 tell you when my first game will be but I can tell you I鈥檓 dying to get started,鈥 Messi said. 鈥淚 want it to be soon.鈥
He only arrived in the French capital on Tuesday before penning a two-year contract with the option of a third season.
The club also revealed yesterday it had paid a signing-on bonus to the player in PSG鈥檚 own virtual currency which it calls $PSG Fan Tokens, originally sold at 2 euros each and currently trading over 30 euros each.
鈥淭he coins are there to create a link between the fans and the club, and it鈥檚 the first time we have used them in this way,鈥 the club said without saying how many it had given to Messi.
PSG quickly emerged as the favorite to sign Messi following the shock of his departure last week from Barcelona and he arrives eyeing a fifth UCL, with the most recent of his four victories with his old club coming in 2015.
PSG is reportedly paying 35 million euros (US$41 million) a year to Messi, who will wear the No. 30 jersey 鈥 with fans continuing to line up outside the club鈥檚 different shops in the capital to buy the shirt with his name and number on the back.
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