Lionel Messi has reportedly insisted that an unusual clause be included in his contract with Paris Saint-Germain.
Messi has now been officially announced as a PSG player on a two-year deal with the option of a third following his emotional exit from Barcelona.
The 34-year-old forward had been due to stay with Barca after agreeing to a 50 per cent wage reduction, but La Liga’s strict financial rules made the situation impossible.
Barcelona announced Messi’s departure on Thursday before the Argentina international held a tearful farewell press conference on Sunday to explain his exit.
Messi did not want to leave the Catalan side, where he scored 672 goals in 778 games and helped win 35 trophies, but he has now sealed a move to PSG after touching down in the French capital on Tuesday.
He has signed to a two-year contract worth £21million (€25m) per year and has been given a signing-on fee of £21m by the club, who announced his arrival late on Tuesday evening.
The financial terms of Messi’s contract were bound to raise eyebrows, given PSG’s financial backing by Qatar Sports Investments, but there are also other interesting facets to his terms.
According to TyC Sports , Messi is keen to make sure that the importance of Argentina is reflected in his club contract.
The report says Messi has made sure a clause is included which states that the Argentine national team will be a priority for him.
That means Messi will want to be involved in Argentina’s upcoming South American Qualifiers for the Qatar 2022 World Cup, which have been delayed by the coronavirus pandemic.
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The suggestion is therefore that any clashes between club and country could see Messi turn out for Argentina instead of PSG.
Meanwhile, another even more bizarre request says the Argentine national team’s medical professionals will be allowed access to PSG’s facilities.
The details show Messi’s continued commitment to Argentina following the country’s dramatic Copa America win earlier this summer.
Messi has made 151 appearances for La Albiceleste since his debut in 2005, scoring 76 goals.
But while he had claimed Olympic gold for his country at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, the Copa America trophy had continued to elude him.
Messi had secured three runners-up medals before the 1-0 win over arch rivals Brazil in the tournament's final on July 10.
It now seems that although he is concreted on PSG for now, Messi is keeping one eye fixed on his country.
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