Lionel Messi reunited with Neymar at PSG after Barcelona exit

The biggest story in football has been resolved with Lionel Messi joining Neymar at French giants PSG.

Just five days after it was confirmed he was leaving Barcelona after more than 20 years at the club, and two days after a bidding tearful goodbye to Barca fans, he is officially a PSG player.

Messi has signed a two-year deal with an option to extend to a third, beginning a new chapter for the 34-year-old Argentine who won Olympic gold back in 2008.

The new signing waved at fans who had gathered to see him at Le Bourget airport just north of Paris on Tuesday (10 August).

Messi will be reunited with Neymar after their four seasons together at the Nou Camp, and will also line up with French World Cup winner Kylian Mbappe, old Real Madrid rival Sergio Ramos, Georginio Wijnaldum, and a constellation of other stars.

Neymar expressed his delight at his reunion with a video showing he and Messi in their Barcelona days on social media, as news of the signing filtered through.

Also among the PSG stars is Angel Di Maria, who played alongside Messi as Argentina claimed Copa America - their first senior triumph for the Albiceleste.

Both men were part of the squad that won Olympic gold in Beijing 13 years ago.

"I wanted to stay"

FC Barcelona confirmed on Thursday (5 August) that the Argentinian superstar would not be re-signing with the side for the forthcoming season, saying in a statement on their website:

"Despite FC Barcelona and Lionel Messi having reached an agreement and the clear intention of both parties to sign a new contract today, this cannot happen because of Spanish La Liga regulations on player registration.

"As a result of this situation, Messi shall not be staying on at FC Barcelona. Both parties deeply regret that the wishes of the player and the club will ultimately not be fulfilled."

Three days later, Messi said goodbye through a flood of tears.

"I've been thinking of what to say, but the truth is I don't know what to say," he said. "I'm not ready for this."

"I haven’t come to terms with the reality of leaving this club and changing my life completely."

"It will be a difficult change, but we will accept it and move forward," he concluded.

Messi's legacy at Barcelona

Messi joined the club as a 13-year-old, and helped Barcelona to four UEFA Champions League trophies and 10 Spanish Liga titles in his time at the Camp Nou.

The 34-year-old's contract had expired prior to him leading the Argentina men's national football team to the Copa America title last month.

He also claimed the 2008 Olympic gold medal, which he has previously described as his most cherished prize.