Lionel Messi’s departure to Saudi Arabia would be a ‘done deal’

2023-05-09 12:25:00

After two failed seasons at PSG, Lionel Messi should therefore join Saudi Arabia, according to a source close to the negotiations.

By NJ with AFP

According to a Saudi source close to the negotiations, Lionel Messi will play in Saudi Arabia next season.
© VALERY HACHE / AFP

Published on 05/09/2023 at 12:25 p.m.

Subscriber-only audio playback

Lhe future of Lionel Messi is “a done deal,” said a Saudi source close to the negotiations on Tuesday, May 9, on condition of anonymity. According to the latter, the Paris Saint-Germain star will therefore play in Saudi Arabia next season. “The contract is exceptional. He is huge. We are still finalizing a few details, ”she added, without revealing the name of the club concerned.

Asked by AFP, PSG limited itself to recalling that Messi’s contract ran until June 30. “If the club had wanted to renew his contract, it would have been done sooner”, however slipped another source at the Parisian club. According to this second source, the Argentinian will honor his end of contract as planned and no official communication from the club is to be expected.

This announcement comes a week after his unauthorized trip to Saudi Arabia and his two-week suspension, finally reduced, by the capital club.

Messi-Ronaldo rivalry recreated?

Already under contract with the Saudi tourist office to promote it on its social networks, Lionel Messi should find in the local championship the Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo, player of Al-Nassr since the winter transfer window.

READ ALSOLionel Messi and PSG: a divorce and a fiascoSeveral media have mentioned in recent days the existence of a fabulous offer from rival club Al-Hilal, valued at 400 million euros per year to bring in Messi and recreate the mythical rivalry with CR7, when the two players played in the Spanish league.

“The negotiations did not take as long as with Ronaldo,” said the Saudi source, adding that as with the latter, the financial package came from the Saudi sovereign wealth fund (PIF). The Portuguese striker’s sensational contract in Saudi Arabia, estimated at 400 million euros until June 2025, made him the highest paid sportsman in the world in 2023, according to Forbes’ annual ranking.