Lionel Messi, who is coming to the end of his contract on June 30 at PSG, should not be out of work for very long. The Argentinian world champion should indeed sign a contract of 400 million in Saudi Arabia to end his career.
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 “huge”. The departure of the Argentine world champion for the rich 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.
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 RonaldoAl-Nassr player since the winter transfer window.
Highest paid athlete in the world
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.
Messi, for the organization of a World Cup
Lionel Messi, who turns 36 in June, is a player at the end of his career, and he will not be there just for football. He will be there to contribute to the attractiveness of the kingdom said the Saudi source, underscoring the country’s ambition to attract other ” great players » as well as young people “with a promising future “.
In February, an official familiar with the matter told AFP that Arabia was also seeking to forge partnerships with Messi to support his candidacy for the organization of a World Cup. A joint candidacy with Egypt and Greece for the 2030 World Cup has been discussed for several months, but has not been formalized.
The oil-rich monarchy, like other Gulf countries, relies in part on sport to diversify its economy and change its image as an ultra-conservative kingdom.
(With AFP)