FOOTBALL

Messi will sign for PSG, father confirms

Workers on a crane remove a poster of Argentine footballer Lionel Messi from the facade of the Camp Nou Stadium. Photo: Thiago Prudencio/dpa.
The 34-year-old is set to form an all-star forward line alongside Neymar and Mbappe

Lionel Messi is on the brink of completing his transfer to Paris Saint-Germain, according to the player's father.

Messi was expected to sign a long-anticipated new contract at Barcelona last week, only for the La Liga giants to announce the deal could not be completed due to "financial and structural obstacles".

PSG have moved quickly to secure the 34-year-old, who is poised to form an all-star forward line alongside Neymar and Kylian Mbappe under head coach Mauricio Pochettino.

Multiple reports in Paris suggest Messi is expected in the French capital on Tuesday, and Jorge Messi was approached by reporters at Barcelona-El Prat Airport.

Asked by La Sexta whether his son would sign for PSG, Messi Senior replied: "Yes."

A follow-up question enquiring who was responsible for Messi leaving Barcelona was met with the response: "Find out at the club."

Tearful news conference

Following his son's tearful Sunday news conference at Camp Nou, Jorge Messi was asked whether the six-time Ballon d'Or winner was upset and retorted: "Haven't you seen him?"

Messi himself then arrived at the airport with his wife and children but did not make any comment to reporters.

Messi's wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, later posted an image of herself and the player on a plane on her Instagram story.

"All towards a new adventure together, the five," her caption read.