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Tadious Manyepo
Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE international forward, Tino Kadewere, says playing in the same league with football superstar Lionel Messi, is a dream come true.
This comes after the Argentine, widely considered one of the greatest footballers of all time, signed a two-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain, on Tuesday.
He was unveiled, amid a wave of Messimania, in the French capital yesterday, with the Argentina captain saying he wanted to win another UEFA Champions League.
He is set to form a dream striking partnership, which will feature Brazilian talisman, Neymar, and French superstar, Kylian Mbappe.
And the star, fresh from helping Argentina land the Copa America honours, was unveiled at PSG yesterday.
Kadewere is excited at the prospect of facing Messi and playing in the same league as the global superstar.
“To be honest, it is some interesting news, getting to play against Lionel Messi is actually a dream come true, and it is also good for the French Ligue 1, for more reasons than one,” said Kadewere.
“At an individual level, I feel honoured to be part and parcel of a league that features a player of Messi’s calibre.
“It’s a privilege to play in the same league with such a magnificent player.
“The atmosphere here has shifted to another level. Everyone is excited from players, fans to administrators, we are all happy.
“It is the trending topic across France.’’
Kadewere said Messimania has been sweeping through France, like a veld fire, with the story being the most dominant in that country.
The online sale of Messi’s Number 30 PSG shirt ran out of stock, after only 30 minutes, yesterday.
“This is a moment like no other. We know how the switch by Messi will transform an already competitive league,’’ said Kadewere.
“The value of the league, the environment, everything will definitely change.
“But, above all, as an individual, given where I am coming from, nothing beats the feeling of playing against one of the best players the world has ever seen.
“When the news broke out that Messi was signing for PSG, I just thought to myself, so this means I will be rubbing shoulders with one of the best players in the world.
“His being in our league gives me extra motivation.”
The first league clash between PSG and Lyon is on September 9.
Kadewere was on the bench, in the opening match of the season, against Brest last weekend, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
“I am happy and looking forward to a good season this time around,’’ he told The Herald.
“I had a decent term, in my first dance in French Ligue 1, last season.
“To be honest, I didn’t expect to have such a good season but through God’s grace, I managed to make an impact.
“But, all that is now water under the bridge. I am looking forward to a good season. Obviously, life in the French Ligue 1, will not be the same.
“It will be more competitive and I am raring to go just like an other player here.
“I was plagued by injuries, the last time out, and I am praying that I am spared and get to play more games, this season.
“We have so many competitions ahead of us, the league, UEFA Europa League and all the other competitions, so I am looking at playing really good football.”
Lyon president, Jean-Michel Aulas, has already said he feels the arrival of Messi, will transform the value of French Ligue 1.
“It’ll be fantastic for us all, for the TV rights and the general marketing value of Ligue 1, it would undeniably be a plus,’’ he said.
‘‘This time, with Messi, you can’t imagine that in a transparent context, the broadcasting rights sold by BeIN abroad wouldn’t explode.
‘’You need the other clubs, at least the ones going for European places, to have the means to sign players like Messi.
‘‘In that case, we would become the number one league in Europe.’’
Messi left Barcelona, the only club he has played for since he was only 13, last week.
The Spanish La Liga powerhouse couldn’t afford to renew the 34-year-old’s contract, under the La Liga Financial Fair Play rules, forcing Barca to call off negotiations for a five-year contract.
PSG, powered by funds from their Qatar backers, will pay Messi a take-home-salary of €35m (about US$41m), which works out at just shy of €3m (about US$3.5m) per month.
Messi will take home roughly €729,000 (about US$855 700) a week, or €104,000 (about US$122 000) a day or €8,680 (about US$10 187) per hour or €144.68 (about US$168) per minute or €2.41 (about US$2.83) per second.
The Argentine superstar is also expected to pocket a €25m (about US$29.33m) signing-on fee.
Barcelona, after reporting huge financial losses, could not fund such an expenditure without running into trouble with the La Liga rules.
“Financial numbers and losses are worst than expected,’’ club president Joan Laporta told the media.
“Our salary mass is not leaving any margin. Financial Fair Play is also blocking us. I can’t make a decision that could destroy the club, Barça are the most important thing”.
According to Forbes, Messi has compiled more than US$1.2 billion in career earnings before taxes, and agent fees.
He is said to have earned US$875 million on the pitch and US$375 million in endorsements.
He was the highest-paid footballer in the world this year at US$130 million (made up of US$97 million in salary and US$33 million in endorsements from partners Adidas, Anheuser-Busch InBev and Gatorade, among others).
Forbes estimate Messi lost between US$25 million and US$75 million of salary and bonuses, to pandemic-related pay cuts, over the last two seasons.
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