Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe are included in the Paris Saint Germain squad for the French Ligue 1 game against Reims scheduled to kick off today, August 29, 2021, at 19:45.
Recall that since Lionel Messi joined PSG from FC Barcelona for free on August 11, he has never made it into the squad of the French team.
The club’s coach, Mauricio Pochettino decided to allow Lionel Messi to regain match fitness since he didn’t have the opportunity to participate in pre-season training before the season started.
Recall that Spanish La Liga did not allow Messi to train with FC Barcelona after his post-Copa America break because his contract with the Spanish club had expired before he returned.
Barcelona tried to extend his contract but the Spanish giants failed to do so because of the financial fair play rule that was already against them. Reports claimed that Barca were already spending more than their revenue, an abnormality that did not give them the room to register some of their new signings and to renew Messi’s contract.
Hence, Lionel Messi who spent over a month without being contracted to a club for the first time in over 17 years, had to join PSG for free.
He is expected to play his first competitive game for PSG later today which would be the first time in his career that he has to play for a club outside Barcelona.
Meanwhile, Mbappe made it into PSG’s squad for the French Ligue 1 game against Reims amidst transfer speculation linking him with a move to Real Madrid.
The 22-year-old French striker has told PSG that he is no longer interested in playing for the club and wished to play for Real Madrid.
Real Madrid have made two offers with the aim of tempting PSG to release Mbappe who still has a season left on his contract with the French Ligue 1 club.
The top officials at PSG including the club’s president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, and the club’s director Leonardo have insisted that PSG are not interested in selling Mbappe.
Hence, Real Madrid might have no choice but to offer Mbappe a pre-contract during the January transfer window which would enable the French striker to join the Spanish club for free when his contract with PSG expires on June 30, 2022.
PSG’s squad for French Ligue 1 game against Reims, August 29, 2021:
Navas 2. Hakimi 3. Kimpembe 4. Marquinhos 5. Verratti 6. Mbappé 7. Paredes 8. Neymar Jr 9. Di Maria 10. Danilo 11. Wijnaldum 12. Herrera 13. Diallo 14. Draxler 15. Kehrer 16. Gueye 17. Kalimuendo 18. Leo Messi 19. Bitumazala 20. Dina Ebimbe 21. Franchi 22. Donnarumma
📋 A group of 22 players are in the squad for the trip to Reims 👀#SDRPSG pic.twitter.com/8PONgR8rH2
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) August 29, 2021
Unavailable due to fitness issues:
- Sergio Ramos 2. Colin Dagba 3. Mauro Icardi 4. Layvin Kurzawa
Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Mbappe: PSG’s front three dream might be actualized tonight
All things being equal, the world might see the anticipated PSG’s front three comprises Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Mbappe tonight against Reims.
Since Messi agreed to join PSG, the world has not stopped talking about the possibility of seeing the aforementioned attackers play together for the French giants.
Hence, with the availability of Messi, Neymar, and Mbappe in PSG’s squad ahead of their league game against Reims tonight, the world of football might witness this trio play together for the first time in the history of the game.
