<p>France is waiting impatiently for Lionel Messi with supporters gathering outside Paris Saint-Germain's ground on Monday hoping to see the Argentine who is expected to join the Qatar-owned club after his exit from Barcelona.</p>.<p>PSG fans stood at the entrance to the Parc des Princes in the hope the 34-year-old superstar might appear, while others gathered at Le Bourget airport to the north of the French capital just in case Messi landed there.</p>.<p>Paris is expected to be Messi's next destination after his tearful departure from the club he has represented throughout the 17 years of his glittering professional career.</p>.<p>However on Monday journalists from <em>AFP TV</em> spotted him still at his home near Barcelona alongside his family as well as his friend and former teammate, Luis Suarez.</p>.<p>Following last week's announcement by Barca that they could not afford to keep their all-time top goal-scorer, PSG emerged as the favourites to sign Messi, helped by the limitless funds of their Qatari owners.</p>.<p>They see him as the missing piece in their jigsaw as they chase the Champions League, the trophy they want more than anything else.</p>.<p>The club have been ready since Sunday to welcome Messi and French media reported on Monday that it was a matter of when, not if he arrives.</p>.<p>"It only seems to be a matter of hours," suggested sports daily L'Equipe, which proclaimed "we are entering into the most incredible days in the history of the French championship."</p>.<p>Before signing any contract in Paris, Messi will first have to undergo a medical examination.</p>.<p>The player conceded at his tearful farewell news conference in Barcelona on Sunday that joining PSG was a "possibility".</p>.<p>In reality, with Abu Dhabi-owned Manchester City having ruled themselves out, they are about the only club who can afford what is expected to be a deal worth 35 million euros ($41m) a year.</p>.<p>"I gave everything for Barcelona from the first day that I arrived right to the last. I never imagined having to say goodbye," Messi said.</p>.<p>"I have still not come to terms with the reality of leaving this club now -- I love this club."</p>.<p>He leaves Barcelona with 672 goals in 778 appearances, a record tally for one club.</p>.<p>Messi won 35 trophies at the Camp Nou after joining Bara aged 13 and deserved a better farewell -- his last appearance came in May's 2-1 home defeat behind closed doors against Celta Vigo.</p>.<p>His trophy tally includes four Champions League and 10 La Liga titles.</p>.<p>"The greatest of all, you can surpass me whenever you want," wrote Messi's old Barcelona teammate Dani Alves -- who won the 43rd honour of his career with Brazil at the Olympics -- in an Instagram message on Monday.</p>.<p>On Monday morning, the images of the Argentinian in tears leapt out from the pages of all the Spanish sports dailies such as Marca, AS and Sport.</p>.<p>One group of Barcelona fans, represented by a Parisian lawyer, announced their intention to lodge a complaint with the European Commission in connection with the rules of financial fair play that Barcelona and PSG must follow.</p>.<p>Despite offering to cut his salary by half to seal a new five-year contract which a club carrying debts of 1.2 billion euros and the player had agreed on, the deal foundered on strict Spanish league salary cap rules.</p>.<p>Messi's arrival would make PSG even more obvious favourites to reclaim a French title they missed out on last season to Lille.</p>.<p>Some in Ligue 1 have mixed feelings about the impending arrival of arguably the greatest player of all time.</p>.<p>"It's extraordinary for Ligue 1," said Metz coach Frederic Antonetti.</p>.<p>"But for a purist like me, Messi should have finished his career at Barcelona."</p>.<p>This summer PSG have already added veteran Spanish defender Sergio Ramos from Real Madrid and Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, the star of Euro 2020.</p>.<p>They have also signed Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum, snatching the Dutchman from under the noses of Barcelona, and spent 60 million euros on Inter Milan right-back Achraf Hakimi, who scored on his league debut at the weekend.</p>.<p>An added attraction in moving to Paris is that coach Mauricio Pochettino, like Messi, started his career at Newell's Old Boys in Rosario, Argentina.</p>.<p>All going to plan he could be unveiled to supporters on Saturday, when PSG play at home to Strasbourg and a full house of nearly 48,000 will be allowed in for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic struck 18 months ago.</p>
<p>France is waiting impatiently for Lionel Messi with supporters gathering outside Paris Saint-Germain's ground on Monday hoping to see the Argentine who is expected to join the Qatar-owned club after his exit from Barcelona.</p>.<p>PSG fans stood at the entrance to the Parc des Princes in the hope the 34-year-old superstar might appear, while others gathered at Le Bourget airport to the north of the French capital just in case Messi landed there.</p>.<p>Paris is expected to be Messi's next destination after his tearful departure from the club he has represented throughout the 17 years of his glittering professional career.</p>.<p>However on Monday journalists from <em>AFP TV</em> spotted him still at his home near Barcelona alongside his family as well as his friend and former teammate, Luis Suarez.</p>.<p>Following last week's announcement by Barca that they could not afford to keep their all-time top goal-scorer, PSG emerged as the favourites to sign Messi, helped by the limitless funds of their Qatari owners.</p>.<p>They see him as the missing piece in their jigsaw as they chase the Champions League, the trophy they want more than anything else.</p>.<p>The club have been ready since Sunday to welcome Messi and French media reported on Monday that it was a matter of when, not if he arrives.</p>.<p>"It only seems to be a matter of hours," suggested sports daily L'Equipe, which proclaimed "we are entering into the most incredible days in the history of the French championship."</p>.<p>Before signing any contract in Paris, Messi will first have to undergo a medical examination.</p>.<p>The player conceded at his tearful farewell news conference in Barcelona on Sunday that joining PSG was a "possibility".</p>.<p>In reality, with Abu Dhabi-owned Manchester City having ruled themselves out, they are about the only club who can afford what is expected to be a deal worth 35 million euros ($41m) a year.</p>.<p>"I gave everything for Barcelona from the first day that I arrived right to the last. I never imagined having to say goodbye," Messi said.</p>.<p>"I have still not come to terms with the reality of leaving this club now -- I love this club."</p>.<p>He leaves Barcelona with 672 goals in 778 appearances, a record tally for one club.</p>.<p>Messi won 35 trophies at the Camp Nou after joining Bara aged 13 and deserved a better farewell -- his last appearance came in May's 2-1 home defeat behind closed doors against Celta Vigo.</p>.<p>His trophy tally includes four Champions League and 10 La Liga titles.</p>.<p>"The greatest of all, you can surpass me whenever you want," wrote Messi's old Barcelona teammate Dani Alves -- who won the 43rd honour of his career with Brazil at the Olympics -- in an Instagram message on Monday.</p>.<p>On Monday morning, the images of the Argentinian in tears leapt out from the pages of all the Spanish sports dailies such as Marca, AS and Sport.</p>.<p>One group of Barcelona fans, represented by a Parisian lawyer, announced their intention to lodge a complaint with the European Commission in connection with the rules of financial fair play that Barcelona and PSG must follow.</p>.<p>Despite offering to cut his salary by half to seal a new five-year contract which a club carrying debts of 1.2 billion euros and the player had agreed on, the deal foundered on strict Spanish league salary cap rules.</p>.<p>Messi's arrival would make PSG even more obvious favourites to reclaim a French title they missed out on last season to Lille.</p>.<p>Some in Ligue 1 have mixed feelings about the impending arrival of arguably the greatest player of all time.</p>.<p>"It's extraordinary for Ligue 1," said Metz coach Frederic Antonetti.</p>.<p>"But for a purist like me, Messi should have finished his career at Barcelona."</p>.<p>This summer PSG have already added veteran Spanish defender Sergio Ramos from Real Madrid and Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, the star of Euro 2020.</p>.<p>They have also signed Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum, snatching the Dutchman from under the noses of Barcelona, and spent 60 million euros on Inter Milan right-back Achraf Hakimi, who scored on his league debut at the weekend.</p>.<p>An added attraction in moving to Paris is that coach Mauricio Pochettino, like Messi, started his career at Newell's Old Boys in Rosario, Argentina.</p>.<p>All going to plan he could be unveiled to supporters on Saturday, when PSG play at home to Strasbourg and a full house of nearly 48,000 will be allowed in for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic struck 18 months ago.</p>