Lionel Messi is set to make his Paris St Germain debut on Sunday after being named in the squad to play at Reims.
The six-time world player of the year signed a two-year deal with the French side on August 10 after ending a 21-year spell at Barcelona.
But PSG boss Mauricio Pochettino said he would not rush Messi into action as the 34-year-old built up his fitness in the French capital.
📋 Un groupe de 22 joueurs pour ce déplacement à Reims 👀#SDRPSGpic.twitter.com/3uKFEGjxo8— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) August 29, 2021
Messi has not played since winning the Copa America with Argentina on July 11 but Pochettino said on Saturday at his pre-match press conference: “He is very motivated.
“He’s a great professional who is adapting very fast to his new teammates and to a new context.”
Kylian Mbappe has also been named in PSG’s 22-man squad for the Reims trip despite the France forward being targeted by Real Madrid.
It has been reported that Real have bid 170million euros (£146m) for Mbappe, who has scored 133 goals in 174 matches for PSG since joining from Monaco in 2017.
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