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Lionel Messi was unveiled as a Paris-Saint Germain player,set to earn in excess of $100 million a season on Wednesday.Credit:Getty

This was technically a free transfer for PSG because Messi was a free agent after his old deal - which contained a €700m ($1.1b) buyout clause - had expired. But the French club has also reportedly paid him a sign-on fee of €30m ($47m),enough to dwarf most transfer fees in football.

These are the sort of numbers that after years upon years of undisciplined and unregulated spending are threatening to send Barcelona broke,and which an increasingly small number of clubs - backed by either oligarchs or nation-states - can afford to even contemplate.

And yet,it’s entirely conceivable that PSG will make all their money back,and then some.

According to one analysis by Spanish company Diagonal Investments,Messi was solely responsible for 30 per cent of Barcelona’s revenue,and over the four-year term of his last contract,brought in €235.6m ($376m) more than he cost them. In other words:his unique,freakish skills on the field helped multiply sales of replica shirts,tickets,sponsorships and broadcast deals like no other player could,Cristiano Ronaldo aside.

An image of Lionel Messi is removed from Camp Nou,Barcelona’s home stadium,after his move to Paris was confirmed.Credit:Getty

A separate study,by Brand Finance,estimates that his exit will inflict an 11 per cent loss in ‘brand value’ on Barcelona and knock €137m ($218.6m) off its overall valuation.

It’s now PSG who will benefit from the Messi halo effect - along with their owners,Qatar Sports Investments,an investment vehicle funded by the Qatari government,which will surely use their new trophy signing as an ambassador for the still-controversial 2022 World Cup.

Messi will join former Barca teammate Neymar and French superstar Kylian Mbappe in an inconceivably brilliant front three. Behind them will beItaly’s Euros hero Gianluigi Donnarumma,Spanish legend Sergio Ramos,former Inter Milan defender Achraf Hakimi,and ex-Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum - all of whom have also arrived in this transfer window,also on obscene wages.

They look odds-on to challenge for the UEFA Champions League. Their jerseys,manufactured by Nike’s Jordan brand,will become the most sought-after pieces of merchandise in world sport - especially Messi’s 30,the number which he wore in his formative days at Barcelona and will wear again in Paris.

Despite his advancing age,there is no evidence Messi’s on-field magic is fading. But the magic of club football itself? That’s up for debate.

Four months ago,thespectre of the European Super League threatened to obliterate the sport’s traditional structures. PSG kept their distance from that highly contentious project. Is this their alternative?

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