Georginio Wijnaldum has officially snubbed FC Barcelona to join Paris Saint Germain after spending five fruitful years at Liverpool.
Long before this summer, Barcelona have shown interest in the 30-year-old midfielder especially after it was announced that Liverpool would not extend the contract of the Dutch midfielder.
The fact that his former national team coach, Ronald Koeman is the manager of Barcelona was supposed to be one of the reasons why Georginio Wijnaldum should join Barcelona.
However, the Netherlands international decided to join PSG in the French Ligue 1 because the contract package that the French team offered to him was better than what Barcelona were ready to offer.
On Thursday, June 10, PSG confirmed that the French side has successfully signed Georginio Wijnaldum whose contract with Liverpool ends on June 30. He will join PSG for free after the European Championship.
The French Ligue 1 giants gave him a three-year deal that would keep him at PSG until the end of the 2023-2024 season.
In his five-year deal at Liverpool, Georginio Wijnaldum reportedly earns about £200,000-a-week which made him one of the highest-paid players at the club.
However, a report by a Dutch publication De Telegraaf claimed them the midfielder accepted a pay cut before he was able to join PSG. Throughout his three-year deal with the French side, Wijnaldum will earn £165,000-a-week after tax.
While reacting to his decision to join PSG where he will play under the former coach of Tottenham Hotspur, Mauricio Pochettino, the Dutch footballer described PSG as one of the biggest clubs in Europe.
“Joining Paris Saint-Germain is a new challenge for me,” Wijnaldum said. “I join one of the best teams in Europe and I am determined to bring my desire and my determination to this ambitious project.
“Paris Saint-Germain has proved its status in recent years, and I am certain that together, for our supporters, we can go even further and higher.”
While a statement from Liverpool confirming his exit from the club described Georginio Wijnaldum as a legend of Liverpool.
Liverpool wrote: “Premier League winner. Champions League winner. FIFA Club World Cup winner. UEFA Super Cup winner. Liverpool legend.
“We thank Gini for all of his contributions to the club during the past five years and wish him the best of luck in the rest of his career.”
Wijnaldum came to Liverpool on June 22, 2016, from Newcastle United for a transfer fee worth €27.50 million. During his five years stay at the Merseyside club, the Netherlands international played 237 times in which he scored 22 goals and provided 16 assists.
He is currently with the Netherlands national team ahead of the European Championship which will kick off later today, June 11. He is expected to captain the team throughout the tournament.
A Liverpool legend❤️ pic.twitter.com/IcoLdeVVB1
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) June 10, 2021
