PSG signing Lionel Messi along with Gianluigi Donnarumma, Sergio Ramos, Achraf Hakimi and Georginio Wijnaldum may trump Real Madrid when Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Karim Benzema arrived.


Mauricio Pochettino must be a very happy man right now.

The Paris Saint-Germain manager was heavily linked with a shock return to Tottenham in May but that move failed to materialise, with Nuno Espirito Santo eventually named as Jose Mourinho’s successor.

And with Spurs currently experiencing a transfer stand-off with star man Harry Kane, you get the overriding sense that Poch will be pleased he stayed put in the end.

Even more so because he’s been able to sign some of the most coveted names in world football this summer – with Lionel Messi completing an incredible transfer window for PSG.

The 34-year-old has signed a two-year deal with the French giants after Barcelona announced they simply couldn’t afford to keep their greatest ever player.

The Argentine mega star will be joined at PSG by fellow summer recruits Gianluigi Donnarumma, Sergio Ramos, Achraf Hakimi and Georginio Wijnaldum.

It means the French side have added genuine leaders and winners to their camp with Champions League, Euro 2020 and a host of domestic titles in England, Spain and Italy among their honours.

The pressure will more intense than ever for Pochettino to deliver silverware: firstly regaining the Ligue 1 title and then winning European football’s most prestigious trophy when the Champions League campaign begins.

A star-studded front three of Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Messi is quite simply a mouthwatering prospect.

Between them, they have scored 1160 goals in senior football. And despite being 34, Messi heads to Ligue 1 still in top form having hit 30 goals in LaLiga last season.

The greatest transfer in football history? Quite possibly, yes. Although Real Madrid might have something to say about that.

In 2009 the LaLiga giants splashed out more than £200million to bring in Cristiano Ronaldo (£80m), Karim Benzema (£30m) and Kaka (£56m) to the Spanish capital.

But you get the sense the business PSG have done this summer is a game-changer – quite simply it should take them right to the very top of world football. The transfer window? They’ve completed it, mate.

Here, talkSPORT.com looks at the new arrivals in Paris.

Gianluigi Donnarumma

Keylor Navas has been a solid and reliable no.1 for PSG for many years, but in Donnarumma they have signed a goalkeeper who is every bit as good as the former right now – but with frightening potential to improve.

The giant goalkeeper, 22, was a domineering figure for Italy during their recent triumph at the European Championship.

Despite his age, he’s already gained huge appearance with 251 senior appearances to his name already.

Honours: Supercoppa Italiana (x1, European Championship (x1)


Sergio Ramos

The veteran defender’s arrival at PSG was a huge statement of intent.

Ramos made 671 appearances for Real Madrid during a glittering 16-year spell at the Bernabeu, scoring 101 times for Los Blancos.

Despite his advancing years, his goalscoring knack, composure on the ball and big-game experience will be a huge thing for Pochettino to draw on -especially in the Champions League.

Honours: La Liga (x5), Champions League (x4), Copa del Rey (x2), Spanish Super Cup (x4), UEFA Super Cup (x3), FIFA Club World Cup (x4)



Achraf Hakimi

Hakimi, who was also wanted by Chelsea, is one of the quickest players in world football.

But the Morocco international is so much more than that, with his £51.3million move from Inter Milan appearing a very smart acquisition indeed.

You get the sense the 22-year-old full-back will be champing at the bit to roam forward and join in on the attack to supply Messi, Neymar and Mbappe with ammunition.

Honours: Serie A (x1), Champions League (x1), Spanish Super Cup (x1), German Super Cup (x1), UEFA Super Cup (x1), FIFA Club World Cup (x1)





Georginio Wijnaldum

Another brilliant acquisition by PSG, with the Dutchman’s agent revealing earlier this summer that Messi was keen for Barcelona to sign the Netherlands star from Liverpool on a free transfer.

Wijnaldum himself even admitted he thought he would be joining the Catalan giants, but a move failed to materialise.

And Barcelona’s loss is most certainly PSG’s gain, with the 30-year-old still a top-class operator.

Wijnaldum, who cited criticism from a small section of Liverpool fans as one of his reasons for leaving Anfield, was also a significant coup for the French side

Wijnaldum, who cited criticism from a small section of Liverpool fans as one of his reasons for leaving Anfield, was also a significant coup for the French side
Wijnaldum’s uncanny knack of dribbling himself out of tight spaces and press resistant ball-hungry outlet will be key for PSG as he looks to supply that brilliant front three.

Honours: Premier League (x1), Eredivisie (x1), Champions League (x1), UEFA Super Cup (x1), Dutch Super Cup (x1), FIFA Club World Cup (x1), KNVB CUP (x2)



Lionel Messi

What can you say about Messi?

He’s simply a phenomenon of which we may never see the like again.

A six-time Ballon d’Or winner, he broke every record going at Barcelona and won 35 trophies with the Spanish club.

Now he’s in Paris and ready to start a new glory-laden chapter in his career. What a team PSG will have.

[b]Honours: [/b]Champions League (x4), LaLiga (x10), Copa del Rey (x7), Spanish Super Cup (x8), UEFA Super Cup (x3), Club World Cup (x3)

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From managing sissoko, wanyama, Danny rose and Eric dier to managing Ramos, Neymar, Mbappe, Messi. Yeah poch is a lucky man