Paris Saint-Germain News: The Parisian side pulled off a major heist by signing Lionel Messi in August 2021. Let’s have a look at how much of a boost the Argentine’s signing has given to the club.
The Copa America winner broke up ties with his beloved Barcelona, which sent shock waves in world football. FC Barcelona lost Lionel Messi as a deal could not be made due to the debt in the club.
Following Lionel Messi’s departure, Paris Saint-Germain were quick to act. The French club pulled off the deal in a matter of days. Following which Lionel Messi was unveiled in the Parc des Princes.
How much revenue did Lionel Messi generate for Paris Saint-Germain
As per a report by Goal, Lionel Messi’s signing was not only useful on the field but also off the field for PSG. The French club has generated a lot of additional revenue following the transfer of Messi.
According to sources, PSG have sold more than a million Messi-printed jerseys since the arrival of the Argentine. Fans were already seen thronging outside the PSG club shops even before the official announcement of Lionel Messi’s signing.
Paris Saint-Germain Sponsorship director Marc Armstrong said that the sales created a record in the club’s history. But Armstrong did express his disappointment as he felt that the sales would have been more without Covid.
Apart from shirt sales, the Argentine’s signing has drawn in more sponsors as well. Brands such as Autohero, Crypto.com, and Smart Good have struck a deal with PSG after the signing of Messi.
To add to this, a few current sponsors have also increased their budget after the signing of Lionel Messi to the club. Marc Armstrong confirmed it by saying, “We immediately had a significant increase in offers and even before he officially signed in Paris.”
The same effect has been seen in the ticket sales and the social media pages of Paris Saint-Germain. The club gained a significant number of followers after getting the services of Lionel Messi.
And as per Armstrong, the ticket demand has also increased from the fans. As per the director, the club is struggling to keep up with the demand as most of the fixtures are getting sold out.
Messi has not produced the same on the pitch
The signing has been brilliant from a financial standpoint. But Lionel Messi has failed to deliver to the expected levels on the pitch. The Argentine has only 1 goal in 11 Ligue 1 appearances.
Messi did have a better showing in the UEFA Champions League. The Argentine scored 5 goals in 5 appearances. Yet he was not able to help his side finish first in their group. Owing to this, PSG will take on Real Madrid in the round of 16 of the Champions League.
