Lionel Messi shall be joining the French giants, PSG on a free transfer. According to Fabrizio Romano, he has signed a 2-year deal with an option to extend till 2024. This transfer came to light after Lionel Messi couldn’t renew his contract with Barcelona. Thus, rendering him a free agent for the coming season. This caused a huge stir making many clubs try to sign the player on a free transfer.
Last season Lionel Messi went on to win the Copa America with Argentina. During the tournament, he went on to score 4 and assist 5 goals having a shot conversion rate of 14%. Each game he averaged 1.6 shots on target and 3.0 key passes. He completed 4.9 successful dribbles per 90 as well has had 1.1 tackles per game. For Barcelona last season, Lionel Messi scored 30 and assisted 9 goals in 35 games. He averaged 0.9 goals per 90. While having a goal conversion of 15% and shot 2.6 shots on target per 90. He had an average of 91 touches on the pitch and passes 2.3 key passes per 90. He completed 4.6 successful dribbles and had a pass accuracy of 85%
How will Paris Saint German Start With Lionel Messi in their Team?
Currently, PSG plays in a 4-2-3-1 formation or switches to an even 4-3-3 formation. The team could play in a hybrid of formations as they of players who can play multiple roles around the pitch. With Lionel Messi being a part of PSG, he can play as a Central-attacking-midfielder or a Right-wing or a Striker. PSG currently has two strikers, Kylian Mbappe and Mario Icardi. Currently, the squad rotates the two players with Mbappe playing as a winger in certain games. It would very doubtful if Messi shall play the striker role. Currently, as wingers, PSG has Angel Di Maria and Neymar Jr. Neymar prefers to play as a Left-Winger while Di Maria is a Right-Winger.
To inculcate Lionel Messi into the squad there will be immense rotation needed. Messi could mainly play in the C-A-M position in a multitude of formations depending on the opponents. They would play in a 4-2-3-1 or a 3-5-2. The club if they wish to implement a fluid forward formation could play a 4-3-3. In this system, Neymar, Messi, and Mbappe can play as rotational strikers. Neymar can drift narrow or wide while Messi could play as a False 9 and Mbappe can run in-behind from the wings.
With the Signing of Messi to PSG, they might have had one of the best transfer seasons ever. They signed Sergio Ramos, Georginio Wijnaldum and Gianluigi Donnarumma on free transfers. While signing one of the best right-backs in the world, Achraf Hakimi for €60M. PSG will need to win the UEFA Champions League this season as the club legit now have a Dream Team while many would call it impossible to be a reality a few years ago.
