By Babs Oyetoro
The size or carat weight of a diamond is only one factor in calculating the value of the diamond. Known as the “Four C’s,” carat, clarity, colour and cut collectively inform the price of a diamond.
No single characteristic outweighs another; they all contribute and influence the final retail value.
This saying aptly captured the worth of PSG new sign-on Lionel Messi, who will be plying his trade in Paris in the next two seasons. Diamond appears priceless, so also Messi’s value cannot be quantified in terms of his performance on the field of play alone.
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His worth is huge, multifaceted, and priceless, when compared with PSG investment on him. Not too long, PSG will realise that they have embarked on a worthwhile venture.
Tongues will not stop wagging with the biggest move of Messi from his childhood club to Paris Saint Germain in the French League.
Some pundits doubted it, but it has finally happened as Messi is roaring to go for his club in the new season.
Just like a rumble in the jungle, Messi’s recent move has opened a new vista of opportunities in the history of PSG. Just within 30 minutes after his unveiling, Messi’s shirt sold out. Less than 24 hours after he signed for the French giant club side, the club’s followers on Instagram rose from 19 million to 42 million, and still counting.
From tearful moment while signing off from his childhood club, who gave him life when he needed it most, to smiling time in PSG coming from endorsement, ticketing, goodwill and what have you, Messi has come long way. This is just the beginning, even as Messi has promised to help PSG to win the much-coveted Champions League diadem this season.
The Argentine captain has come to PSG with a very rich profile that is irresistible by any corporate bodies or individuals. Certainly, there will be an avalanche of goodwill to accompany his move to PSG.
Of a truth, he has spent his entire professional career with Barcelona, where he won a club-record 34 trophies, including ten La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey titles, and four UEFA Champions Leagues, yet he is not done. Even at 34, he still has a point to prove. Also, in his kitty are six Ballon d’Or awards, and six European Golden shoes.
Playing alongside Brazil’s Neymar, French World Cup winner Kylian Mbappe, De Maria in the attack, with a defence marshal in Sergio Ramos, will give Messi the latitude to explode in the French League.
“I am excited to begin a new chapter of my career at Paris Saint-Germain,” PSG quoted Messi as saying. “I am determined to help build something special for the club and the fans, and I am looking forward to stepping out onto the pitch at the Parc des Princes.”
Unarguably, the arrival of Barcelona’s record scorer, with 672 goals will boost Qatari-owned PSG’s ambitions to win the prestigious and lucrative European Champions League for the first time.
“He has made no secret of his desire to continue competing at the very highest level and winning trophies, and naturally our ambition as a club is to do the same,” PSG president, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, said.
Crowds of supporters thronged to the club’s Parc des Princes stadium, chanting and setting off smoke flares. “It’s going to be mad. There’s a legend arriving, after all,” said supporter Florent Chauveau.
Recall that Messi arrived in Paris on a private jet with his wife and three children, waving to hundreds of supporters gathered outside the airport before being whisked to a private hospital for a medical. He later waved to dozens of fans who had assembled beneath the balcony of his hotel room.
