Messi’s departure to Saudi Arabia is ‘a done deal’ according to local source

2023-05-09 11:32:53

By Le Figaro with AFP

Published
4 minutes ago
,
Update 1 minute ago

Lionel Messi and his family in Saudi Arabia earlier this month. HANDOUT / REUTERS

From a Saudi source, the departure of Lionel Messi has already been recorded. He would engage in favor of the Al-Hilal club.

Paris Saint-Germain star Lionel Messi will play in Saudi Arabia next season, a Saudi source close to the negotiations told AFP on Tuesday, calling the contract “enormous”.

The departure of the Argentine footballer for the wealthy Gulf kingdom is “a done deal. He will play in Saudi Arabia“said this source on condition of anonymity. “The contract is exceptional. He is huge. We are still finalizing some 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 earlier“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.

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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.

Several 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.

«Negotiations didn’t take as long as with Ronaldo“Said the Saudi source, adding that as for 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.