PSG director Leonardo reveals how exactly Messi move happened

"I can't hide the fact that we had contacted him [Messi] before," PSG director Leonardo has told the media, as per Marca.

"We spoke to him, but after January, when he was six months away from the end of his contract. We never contacted him before January.

"His idea was always to stay at Barca. After his exit was announced, we contacted him again," he added.

Leo Messi was expected to stay put at Barcelona but the club failed to register his new contract amid financial difficulties.

The Argentine was a free agent since July 1. In early August, he signed his 2-year PSG contract.