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Ligue One Set To Change Rule For Lionel Messi At PSG

Ligue One Set To Change Rule For Lionel Messi At PSG

Ligue One are set to make an exception for Lionel Messi, who is poised to sign for PSG.

Josh Lawless

Josh Lawless

Ligue One are poised to make an exception to one of the rules just for Lionel Messi.

After ending a 21-year association with his beloved Barcelona, Messi looks set to join Paris Saint-Germain on an initial two-year contract and will reportedly earn €25 million-a-year.

The talk had been that Messi would be taking the No.19 shirt at PSG after respectfully rejecting the offer of his close friend and former teammate Neymar to assume the No.10 he currently wears.

But MARCA are now saying PSG have offered Messi the No.30 shirt and is "likely to be chosen" by the six-time Ballon d'Or winner.

Image: PA
Image: PA

Messi made his debut with 30 on his back for Barcelona, switched to No.19 in 2006 and then went up another gear with 10 on his back after Ronaldinho departed two years later.

Ligue One's rules state that the No.30 must be reserved for goalkeepers yet it's said there will be no issue in putting that aside for arguably the greatest player in football history.

Gianluigi Donnarumma, who also signed on a free transfer this summer, took the No.50 shirt because he was not allowed to wear the No.99 he sported for AC Milan.

Similarly, Mario Balotelli had to wear No.9 for Marseille and Nice because No.45 was not allowed.

Image: PA
Image: PA

"The numbers 1, 16 and 30 are exclusively and necessarily reserved for goalkeepers, "the LFP rule #670 states.

"Ultimately, the number 40 can be assigned. All teams must have a jersey with number 33 that is not assigned to a player and reserved for breaking replacements. A directory is established early in the season and available to referees and delegates by the LFP."

Many had urged Barcelona to retire the No.10 shirt, currently vacant, in honour of Messi.

However, Barca legend Ronaldo de Boer believes Barcelona should hand the shirt to a youngster who aspires to be "as good as Messi."

Speaking to talkSPORT, De Boer said: "We had it with Johan Cruyff No 14 [at Ajax], of course.

"In another way, no, you have to always dream to be just as good as Messi. I think the No 10 must stay alive, not to say okay we'll put it some place and nobody's going to touch it.

"I mean, Messi's Messi. [...] If I think about Messi, it's about his football skills, so not his shirt. Try to give it to a youngster who wants to be just as good as Messi."

Featured Image Credit:

Topics: Paris Saint-Germain, Football, Barcelona, Ligue One, PSG, Lionel Messi

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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