The World Awaits Messi's Debut At PSG, Pique Buys Ligue 1 Broadcasting Rights
JAKARTA - The rights to Ligue 1 in Spain were bought by Gerard Pique's company, Kosmos Holding, ahead of Lionel Messi's debut at Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday.
PSG will be hosted by Reims at the Stade Auguste-Delaune II at 20:45 CEST (European summer time) and the match will be broadcast free in Spain via Spanish streamer Ibai Llanos channel on Twitch.
Este domingo a las 20:45 podréis ver el debut de Leo Messi con el PSG de manera totalmente gratuita en mi canal de Twitch. Con imagen, obviamente. Va a ser un día realmente histórico para todos los que nos dedicamos a esto así que os pediría que reventáramos la plataforma. ❤️❤️
— Ibai (@IbaiLlanos) August 25, 2021
According to ESPN, Spanish TV channel Telecinco also has the rights to broadcast Messi's debut with his new team, following his departure from Barcelona.
These Ligue 1 rights were previously held by Movistar and company Pique plans to sub-license them to TV channels or over-the-top media services.
The furore in France ahead of Messi's debutLionel Meesi decided to join PSG this summer after Barcelona failed to balance their books and renew his contract, which expires on June 30.
In Paris, he was joined by his former rival at Real Madrid, Sergio Ramos, as well as his close friend Neymar.
Having led Argentina to Copa America glory this summer, La Pulga is enjoying his holiday before heading to Paris to train under Mauricio Pochettino.
However, Messi is not fit to feature in PSG's first few matches in Ligue 1 and his debut is expected to take place at Reims.
Upon his arrival in France, fans from across the country and around the world were in awe, making his debut as one of the most anticipated events of the coming weekend.
As Reims ticket office manager Alexandre Jeannin explained in an interview for L'Equipe, people from all over the world have already bought tickets for Sunday's duel.
"The number of requests for tickets is incredible," said Jeannin.
"It's hard to quantify. And we've had some pretty incredible sales through online ticket offices, with purchases coming in from all over the world, from Chile, South Korea, Thailand, Egypt or India."