Lionel Messi’s dramatic departure from Barcelona earlier this month was the biggest football transfer story of the year.

The 34-year-old was forced to end a two-decade association with the Blaugrana as they could not register his new contract with authorities, while he subsequently joined Paris Saint-Germain on a two-year contract.

While the immediate focus has inevitably been on the sporting focus on the move with Messi integrating into his new club’s training sessions and preparing for his debut, his focus is now turning to personal practicalities.

According to UK’s Mirror, Messi has had to leave his long-term residence in Catalonia to make the move to Paris with his wife Antonela Roccuzzo and their three sons – Thiago, Mateo and Ciro.

Now there are a host of upmarket estate agents in the French capital bending over backwards to try and find a home for the Argentine superstar and his young family.

Messi and his family are currently residing in the five-star, £17,000-a-night Le Royal Monceau hotel in the city – and whilst those surroundings are particularly luxurious, it is not practical to base themselves there for the long term.

They are now being offered the choice between two plush pads in the French capital, each of which cost a little over £22million.

The luxury facilities at the prospective properties including swimming pools, personalised gyms and plentiful space.

Messi is earning £1million-a-week after signing for the French giants and many of his teammates are based in the west of the capital due to its close proximity to their Le Parc des Princes stadium and the club’s training ground.

Star forward Neymar, for example, lives in a five-storey, 10,800 square foot mansion in the fancy suburb of Bougival – located 15km from the centre of the city.

The area of Neuilly-sur-Seine has been suggested as a possible destination due to its ease of access not only to the club’s facilities but also to schools and facilities for the family.

The district of Villa Montmorency is another potential destination due to its prime location, luxurious home and its plentiful supply of restaurants and cafes.

Yvelines is to the north-west of the city and is thought to be an attractive possibility that would offer Messi and his family the relatively quiet life they seek, but its distance from the city may prove problematic.

It is still unclear if Messi is looking to buy or rent a property – he has only signed a two-year contract at the Parisian club so his stay in the city is unlikely to be a long-term one.

Many Parisians, even those who are extremely wealthy, live-in apartments – family homes that have gardens and the luxuries of high-end property often are not available within the city walls, particularly those that are rentals.

Earlier this month, Antonin Thomas of Daniel-Féau, who represents an estate agents who have secured properties for PSG stars previously, told Le Parisien as quoted by Diario AS : “They want to be treated like any client.

“They want the same as they have in Barcelona  – a contemporary house with a very clean look, one that does not need any work done on it and has a garden and a swimming pool.