Lionel Messi is now rumored to be close to a record deal with Saudi side Al Hilal. This deal would make him the highest-paid footballer on the planet.
Al-Hilal reportedly provided the Argentine superstar a contract for more than €400 million ($438.2 million) each season, according to renowned football reporter Fabrizio Romano. This offer was made one month ago, though Messi did not respond to it yet.
He went on to say that Messi’s “priority” was to stay in Europe, that Barcelona was waiting to resolve its Financial Fair Play difficulties before offering for Messi, and that PSG’s approach was rejected because Messi wanted “sporting guarantees.”
Al-Hilal competes in the Saudi Professional League, and if Messi signs, he will be in the same league as Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese is a longtime rival, who joined Al-Nassr in January.
Ronaldo left Manchester United to join Al Nassr on a two-year contract for more than 200 million euros ($333 million). The contract was a then-record, and it made him the highest-paid player in football.
Why has Lionel Messi once again been linked to Al Hilal?
However, the rumors of a Saudi move have once again reignited.
The Telegraph claimed on Thursday that Messi’s representatives are in discussions to join the Saudi team on a three-year contract for 320 million euros ($532 million).
Lionel Messi’s reps are in talks on a $400M-per-season contract to play in the Saudi Pro League, per @Telegraph
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 3, 2023
This would make him the highest-paid player in football 💰 pic.twitter.com/dWSN8481Zz
Messi is already the most recognizable “ambassador” for the Saudi Tourism Authority (STA), and another huge marketing stunt this week has irritated PSG. To honor his duties under his STA contract, the Argentine had gone to Saudi for a promotional advertisement. But the club said that he missed a training session that was not in the normal schedule but was put as an extra session after PSG’s humiliating 3-1 loss against Lorient. The Parisiens fined and suspended Messi for two weeks’ salaries and suspended him for the same amount of time.
Paris Saint-Germain confirm to AFP they are set to “discipline football star Lionel Messi over his trip to Saudi Arabia”. 🔴🔵⚠️ #PSG
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 2, 2023
The suspension will be valid for the next two weeks — it could include no chance to play games and partecipate to group trainings. pic.twitter.com/KKY66jMM65
The disciplinary suspension makes it much more unlikely that Messi will continue in Paris once his two-year contract ends at the conclusion of this season. Fabrizio Romano even confirmed that Messi has now already decided to leave PSG at the end of the season, having rejected their previous contract renewal offers.
Messi joined in 2021 from Barcelona, where he spent most of his career, but has failed to replicate his great form in Paris.
Regardless, he has 31 goals in 71 appearances across all competitions. Messi scored 20 goals in all competitions this season and is also the assist leader in Ligue 1 this season with 15. He was recently booed by a portion of the PSG fan base, who asked him to leave the club.
It remains to be seen where Messi eventually ends up joining, with a host of teams willing to take the Argentine legend in their team.
