Lionel Messi gets emotional during a press conference to explain his version of the reasons for his departure from FC Barcelona in Barcelona, Spain on Sunday. Photo: IC

World-class soccer player Lionel Messi recently ended his 21 years with FC Barcelona to embark on a new journey with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). On China's Twitter-like Sina Weibo, the star's nearly 7 million fans sent their best wishes for his new career in France. 

The veteran forward has signed a two-year deal with his new club in France with an option for a third year. Having arrived in Paris on Tuesday, Messi is the most recent superstar to join the PSG, a star-studded club that has other big-name strikers such as Kylian Mbappé and Neymar. 

 "I am determined to help build something special for the club and the fans, and I am looking forward to stepping out onto the pitch at the Parc des Princes," Messi said in a statement to media. 

Messi's new career move became a hot topic on Sina Weibo, earning more than 400 million views. 

"I'm so sad for what happened, but I'm happy for him. He will shine no matter where he goes. Why couldn't FC Barcelona keep him? I hate it!" posted one netizen on Sina Weibo. 

"I was feeling desperate as a fan of Messi and also a supporter of the club. It is not romantic at all. He helped the club win more than 30 times, I thought he was going to stay with it from the start to the end," Yang Ming, a Chinese fan of Messi, told the Global Times on Wednesday. 

The star's separation from FC Barcelona has been headline news ever since early August, when the Spanish club explained that it was not able to keep Messi due to a tight financial situation and issues relating to the Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations of La Liga. 

Some other netizens said they found Messi's departure inspiring, posting messages such as "You can still face a career crisis even when you are the best employee in the world" and "Don't treat a company as a home, don't deepen your emotional connection to your boss."  

Despite some sad comments concerning the end of Messi's relationship with his former club, some determined Chinese fans expressed solid support for the star, saying they are looking forward to Messi's performance in Paris with such a strong team. 

"Mbappé and Neymar, and Messi, the combination is mind blowing. Who could forget the genius Mbappé in his 19, and Messi, one of the best players of all time. It will shut everyone up if PSG wants to flaunt what it has," Dylan Yang, a Chinese soccer fan, told the Global Times on Wednesday.  

Messi was seen tearing up at a press conference on Sunday where he said his final goodbye to FC Barcelona. 

At the new club, he will wear a number 30 jersey.