After welcoming Cristiano Ronaldo this winter, Saudi Arabia dreams of grabbing Lionel Messi, who has still not extended to PSG.
For several days, the trend has been for an extension of Lionel Messi to the Paris Saint Germain. At the end of the contract next June, the Argentinian international is close to extending his lease with the club of the French capital until 2024, an additional year. The two parties have reached an agreement in principle but for now, nothing is official and the final details are obviously taking longer than expected to settle. What give hope to some courtiers of La Pulga… For a long time, David Beckham’s Inter Miami has been interested. A suitor to which we must now add Al-Hilal, the rival Saudi club of Al-Nassr, where Cristiano Ronaldo signed during this winter transfer window.
Messi against Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia?
According to information from Mundo Deportivo, Al-Hilal has submitted a colossal offer to Lionel Messi in order to offer the services of the sevenfold Ballon d’Or. Indeed, the Saudi club would have offered Lionel Messi a totally crazy salary of 300 million euros… per year. Enough to turn the head of any player and even a champion of Lionel Messi’s stature. From the height of his 35 years, the number 30 of PSG proved during the World Cup with Argentina that he was still one of the best players on the planet, if not the best and that consequently, it is still possible for him to play at the highest level in the Champions League. But how will Lionel Messi react to an offer of this size? In the entourage of PSG, we are seriously starting to tremble as negotiations drag on for the extension of the former captain of Barça.
The Emir of Qatar fears a departure from Messi
Cousin of the Emir of Qatar and therefore very close to PSG, Nasser Al-Attiyah already imagines Lionel Messi accepting the Saudi challenge in the more or less long term. “It is difficult for Messi to return to Barca from PSG. PSG have a very strong economy, they have a good balance sheet and a very clear plan. From what I see now, also from Al Nassr, who signed Cristiano Ronaldo with a crazy amount of a million dollars, I’m sure that Messi, in a few months, about 3 or 6 months, a club in Saudi Arabia will also sign Messi. You’ll see. And I can tell you which team: I’m sure he will go to Al-Hilal (…) He will not return to Barça. He will go to Saudi Arabia. There is a lot of money here and the players are looking for a big contract.” imagined the cousin of the Emir of Qatar, convinced that Lionel Messi will end his career in Saudi Arabia, like Cristiano Ronaldo. It remains to be seen whether the PSG playmaker will be tempted by this exotic challenge this summer or whether he will wait until at least 2024.