The Argentinian player sealed a deal with the Qatar-owned team last week after leaving FC Barcelona, ending a 21-year journey with the football team.
French writer Antoine de Saint-Exupéry once observed that, “a goal without a plan is just a wish”, the sentiment of which Paris Saint Germain fans would do well to contemplate. Whether a wish, a fantasy or a dream-come-true, the signing of Lionel Messi by the Parisian club has enraptured supporters of Les Parisiens.
For those involved in orchestrating the Argentinian’s sensational move to the Blue and Reds, the goal is clear: to win the UEFA Champions League. Aside from last season’s Ligue 1 hiccup, when PSG finished second in the Ligue 1, the club has recently been perennially winner of the French league trophy.
PSG has jumped to 3 billion euros in value in last decade: Al-Khelaifi
Champions League success has, however, proved to be more elusive. Although the team made it to the 2019/2020 final, it lost against Bayern Munich. Last season, the French capital city giants stumbled in the semi-final against Abu Dhabi owned Manchester City. During this coming season, Qatar Sports Investments (PSG’s owner) and Mauricio Pochettino (the team’s coach) will be hoping to break their competition hoodoo.
Although Messi’s acquisition is somewhat serendipitous, courtesy of his former club FC Barcelona’s financial mismanagement, the plan is simple: enable him to create and score the goals that will propel the 51-year-old club to European glory in 2022.
The symbolism of winning the tournament at the end of this coming season would be striking. After all, just five months after the scheduled date upon which the Champions League final will be played, Qatar will host the World Cup. A PSG victory in combination with a successful FIFA tournament would communicate a distinctive message both to football and the world in general.