Leandro Paredes on Messi’s PSG transfer announcement: ‘Obviously we didn’t believe it’
Messi PSG
© Imago Images
Lionel Messi’s exit from Barca seemed unthinkable, but then it happened. His new teammate Leandro Paredes couldn’t believe it.
Paris Saint-Germain’s Leandro Paredes has revealed he was shocked by Lionel Messi’s move from FC Barcelona to PSG last summer. Messi had left the Catalans on a free transfer as his club was struggling financially and couldn’t renew the former world player’s contract.
Shortly before the move, Messi took photos with numerous PSG players, including Paredes, during his vacation in Ibiza. “He flew back the next day to sign Barca’s new contract,” recalled the PSG midfielder. “We said to him ‘Come to us’, but he told us ‘Everything is ready. Tomorrow I’ll fly and sign’,” added Paredes.
Paredes only believed in Messi change when he signed
“I don’t know what happened on the way to Barcelona. Because the night he wanted to sign, he suddenly told us he was coming to us,” Paredes marveled – and couldn’t believe it: “First Of course we didn’t believe it.”
Even when Messi confirmed several times that he would now switch to PSG, Paredes was not convinced. “I said to him, ‘Until you sign and I see you’re wearing the PSG shirt, I don’t believe you,'” he said. Paredes eventually had to believe Messi because on August 10 he did the most spectacular change of summer 2021 Perfect.