Report: Lionel Messi to Receive 3-Year Contract Offer from PSG After Barcelona Exit

Paris Saint-Germain reportedly "feel a deal is close" with longtime Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi after initial conversations about a potential three-year contract.

ESPN's Julien Laurens reported Friday further negotiations between PSG and Messi's father Jorge, who also serves as the six-time Ballon d'Or winner's agent, are planned for no later than Monday.

Barcelona announced Thursday they wouldn't be able to re-sign Messi because of La Liga's "regulations on player registration," a sudden turn of events after it was reported in mid-July the sides reached an agreement on a new five-year deal to keep him at Camp Nou.

The 34-year-old Argentine heading to PSG could have a trickle-down effect.

His arrival would "increase the likelihood" Kylian Mbappe signs a new long-term contract with the Parisians before his current deal expires next summer and would bring an end to the club's pursuit of Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba, per Laurens.

Messi would also reunite with Neymar after spending four seasons together as teammates with Barca from 2013 through 2017.

In February 2020, the Barcelona legend told Mundo Deportivo (via ESPN) he was hopeful the Brazilian forward would eventually return to the Spanish club.

"Neymar has always been a top-level player and different to the rest," Messi said. "He is unpredictable, he takes players on and he scores lots of goals. On a sporting level Neymar is one of the best in the world and I'd love for him to come back."

While the reunion never happened at Camp Nou, it sounds possible it will occur at the Parc des Princes.

Although there was little in the way of rumors about Messi leaving Barcelona following the reports about the five-year deal, PSG kept tabs throughout the process and have been in contact with Jorge Messi for "some time," per Laurens.

Since there are a limited number of clubs with the financial flexibility to add a player of Messi's caliber, PSG may not face a ton of competition despite the fact he'd help pretty much any attack in Europe.

Messi recorded 30 goals and nine assists across 35 La Liga appearances for Barca last season. He tallied 672 goals in all competitions across 17 years with the Blaugrana.