Lionel Messi’s agent-father Jorge is strongly rumored to be in Riyadh for talks with Al-Hilal about the possibility of his son joining the Saudi club on a mammoth £245m-a-year contract.
The rumors are swirling again immediately after Messi hit the action lines upon his return from his celebratory World Cup festivities and made a goal-scoring return for PSG on Wednesday in his first match since winning the World Cup last month, making his club future at the Parisian club uncertain.
Messi’s deal expires in June and, while it’s understood he is supposed to have assured PSG he will sign an extension only days ago, it has now emerged that Al-Hilal are keen to bring him to Saudi Arabia with a mammoth $300m-a-year (£245m) deal over the line, according to Mundo Deportivo.What’s equally fascinating is that Messi is believed to be open to the move,
With Nasser Al-Attiyah, a relative of the Emir of Qatar, having further fuelled speculation that the Argentine superstar will move to the Middle East after reportedly stating: “Messi, his next club after his departure from Paris Saint-Germain, will be Saudi Arabia.”
Al-Hilal are currently banned from adding players until the next transfer window, but they want Messi to sign now ahead of a potential move in the summer.
Messi’s father has arrived in the Saudi capital to discuss the proposed move, as reported by The New Arab, which would see Messi renew his on-pitch rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo joined fellow Saudi side Al-Nassr last month after sealing a mouth-watering £175m per year deal.
However should Messi accept Al-Hilal’s proposal, his paycheck will be significantly more than Ronaldo’s, besides having the chance to renew his intense rivalry with his great nemesis once more.
Clashes between Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal are viewed as Saudi’s equivalent of the Spanish League’s El Clasico, and seeing Messi and Ronaldo on opposite sides would only spice up the occasion.
The legendary paid could also play against one another when PSG travel to Riyadh to take on an All-Star XI featuring players from Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal on January 19.
For all this forebodes, this could serve as a dress rehearsal for future meetings between the iconic pair if Messi decides to call time on his tenure in Europe and take Al-Hilal’s lucrative offer.