Barcelona announced on Thursday that, despite having agreed a new contract with the club he signed for as a kid, Messi would be leaving, sparking wild speculation about the Argentine icon's next destination.

PSG have already been strongly linked to the 34-year-old, who recently spent holidays alongside PSG players Neymar, Leandro Paredes, Marco Verratti and Angel Di Maria, and Pochettino did nothing to ruin the dream of fans that they could potentially see Messi in their team's shirt in the new campaign.

"We're focussed on the start of the season. The club is also working on the transfer window at the same time, quietly but strongly, to improve the team and achieve objectives," said Pochettino in Friday's pre-match press conference. "When we're talking about players of his calibre, for any club — it's the same for PSG as for the others — such an opportunity can present itself to you. The club is working as I have said. If we have more information, we'll let you know. Like in every case, we're looking at all the possibilities, and that's one. When we're talking about the transfer window, it's clear anything can happen."

The same could be said of Mbappé, who is entering the final year of his current deal at the Parc des Princes. The 22-year-old has not played a competitive game since missing the decisive penalty in France's UEFA EURO 2020 shoot-out exit to Switzerland in June, and did not travel to Israel for last weekend's 1-0 defeat to reigning champions Lille in the Trophée des Champions.

Neymar, Marquinhos, Di Maria, Paredes and Verratti returned from holiday on Friday, reporting to the club's training centre for their pre-season tests after also representing their countries over the summer.

Verratti's international teammate and fellow EURO winner Gianluigi Donnarumma only began training this week while another new signing, Sergio Ramos, has a calf injury that will sideline him along with another Spain international, Juan Bernat, who is all but fully recovered from the ACL injury he suffered last season.

'High percentage Mbappé starts'

But Pochettino admitted Mbappé is all but certain to be on the pitch when last season's league runners-up open their 2021/22 title bid in Champagne country.

"Kylian is available and there is a high percentage [chance] that he starts the game," confirmed Pochettino, who is not too worried that he cannot call upon his full squad just yet.

"When an element in a squad is missing, it affects the dynamic, the preparation and the output. We've got a lot of internationals in the squad. At the end of the season, after a COVID-disrupted year, the priority was to give them a break. We're happy all the players are here now. They have all arrived on the day and at the time we asked them to."

Idrissa Gueye, who missed the Trophée des Champions following a positive COVID test, remains under pandemic protocols, so summer arrival Georginio Wijnaldum could start in midfield after making a substitute appearance in Tel Aviv where fellow new face, right-back Achraf Hakimi, stood out.

Despite the efforts of the summer signing from Italian champions Inter Milan, PSG slumped to a surprise defeat, letting slip a trophy they had won in the previous eight years. Pochettino, however, felt the pain inflicted by the loss could serve his squad well.

"We talked about that with the players today. The aim is to win every game, and all competitions. The Trophée des Champions defeat really hurt me, even if we must take nothing away from Lille. I have a feeling of revenge and I want to win. I want to build a mentality to win everything, whether it be the league or the Champions League. We'll be very strict in every detail, that's what paves the way to success. I love feeling that pressure, that hatred of losing," said the ex-Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur boss, who praised the club's work in reinforcing the means at his disposal. 

"I'm very happy with the club's efforts to improve the team. All the players who have arrived have done so as a result of a consensus. That happens so infrequently in football that it's worth pointing out. Some of these players are already here, others will come in a little later." Will one of them be Messi?

Probable teams

Troyes: Gallon; Salmier, Giraudon, El-Hajjam; Dingomé, Tardieu, Kouamé, Chambost; Baldé, Ripart, Kaboré

PSG: Navas; Hakimi, Kehrer, Kimpembe, Kurzawa; Herrera, Danilo, Wijnaldum; Draxler, Icardi, Mbappé

>> FOCUS: PSG's summer signings

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