Will Lionel Messi play his first Ligue 1 match at Stade Delaune in Reims?

The information was put forward by the newspaper Le Parisien. According to their sources, Lionel Messi should be presented to the supporters of Paris Saint-Germain this Saturday shortly before 9 p.m. on the occasion of the meeting against Strasbourg, in an archicomble Parc des Princes. But the now former Barcelona player will not yet be ready to put on his crampons. On vacation since July 11 and his Copa America victory with Argentina, Messi must do a lot of preparation to regain his physical level and above all the rhythm. It is also difficult to envisage seeing him at the Stade Francis-le Blé in Brest on the third day, especially since the match was scheduled for Friday, August 20, in just 10 days.

But Paris Saint-Germain making two consecutive trips coming to Reims, 9 days after this trip to Brittany, the presence of the Argentine prodigy for a first appearance in Delaune could emerge, Sunday August 29. Without the latter performing the 90 minutes of the meeting. This prospect is all the more credible since after this match of the 4th day between the Stade de Reims and Paris Saint-Germain, an international truce of 15 days is planned. The Parisians return to the Parc des Princes on September 12 against Clermont-Ferrand, then the Champions League on the following Tuesday or Wednesday (September 14 or 15). Lionel Messi will necessarily need playing time with his teammates before starting this Champions League, and it’s hard to imagine that he will not play any minute of play between the moment he signs his contract with the Parisian club, either this week, and September 11 or 12 against Clermont. Especially since the Argentinian, like the players of this status, will not be confined to making laps and perfecting without the ball and without competition, a physical preparation which in any case does not require him to start from scratch. He’s in good shape, and he said it.

We should know more on the occasion of the player’s presentation press conference which, according to some sources, could take place this Wednesday in Paris, without having a definitive answer.

If Messi crowds the lawn of Delaune on August 29, it will be a new world football star to present himself in Reims, after Neymar of course who has already « worked » but also the Englishman David Beckham, who had played 26 minutes on the 2 March 2013 in an archicomble Delaune.

That day, the Stade de Reims won 1-0 …