Paris Saint-Germain could announce the arrival of Lionel Messi on a free transfer on Tuesday, according to a report.
Despite Joan Laporta's insistence that the six-time Ballon d'Or winner was keen to stay at Barcelona, financial obstacles ultimately prevented him from extending his glittering stay in Catalonia.
Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain have always been the two sides most strongly linked with a swoop for Messi, with the French side now having a clear run at the attacker after Pep Guardiola ruled the Premier League champions out of the running.
The 34-year-old will address the media in a Barcelona press conference on Sunday afternoon, and Le Parisien reports that he could be unveiled as a PSG player 48 hours later.
PSG are understood to have prepared a two-year contract offer for Messi with the option of an additional 12 months, and he is supposedly in line to earn a whopping £34m per year at the Parc des Princes.
Messi leaves Barcelona having scored 672 goals and registered 305 assists in 778 appearances, and his arrival in France could reportedly see PSG end their interest in Manchester United's Paul Pogba.
Ben Knapton
