Football

Lionel Messi linked with blockbuster transfer

Lionel Messi linked with blockbuster transfer

Lionel Messi is being linked with a sensational move to Saudi Arabia, just weeks after Cristiano Ronaldo completed his transfer to Al-Nassr FC. According to a report in Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, Messi is on the radar of Al-Nassr’s greatest rivals, Al Hilal.

It is said that Messi’s Father and agent, Jorge, has been in Saudi Arabia this week to discuss the potential contract offer which could be worth up to an incredible £245 million per year. If true, this would dwarf the contract that Ronaldo signed with Al-Nassr earlier this month which made him the highest-paid athlete in the world. 

Messi is out of contract with PSG in the summer with his initial two-year deal due to end. Although there have been reports in France that the seven-time Ballon d’Or has verbally agreed to extend his stay in Paris, it would be hard to turn down a contract offer of that size at this stage of his career. 

If he does elect to move to Al-Hilal then he would reportedly be earning £70m more than Ronaldo each year. It would also mean that the two rivals would once again be going head-to-head in the same league. Al-Hilal are the bitter rivals of Ronaldo’s All-Nassr with the two teams making up the Riyadh derby each year. 

A potential final payday

Just last month, Lionel Messi completed his dream of winning the World Cup with Argentina. In a titanic final with France, Messi netted twice in a game that went all the way to a penalty shootout. 

With a World Cup winners medal now in his back pocket, there isn’t anything left for Messi to win. He has won the Champions League on four occasions, has league titles in France and Spain and a plethora of domestic cups. 

messi world cup

If he was to end his playing career in Europe then Saudi Arabia may well be the most logical choice. In November, he signed a £25m deal with the nation to promote tourism there and is expected to play a part in their future bids to host the World Cup. 

There will be others, however, who believe Messi should either end his playing career with Barcelona or back in Argentina. There has been speculation in recent years that he would like to play for Newell’s Old Boys, the club he played for as a child, before he hangs up his boots. 

Reigniting an old rivalry 

The chance to reignite his rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo could be a tantalising prospect for Messi. For a decade, the pair of them went head to head for La Liga and Champions League titles with Barcelona and Real Madrid. 

They both seemingly forced one and other to reach new heights each and every season before Ronaldo left Real Madrid in 2018. Although neither of them will ever reach the same heights as they did during the early-mid 2010s, the opportunity to see them face off again in domestic competition would be special. 

For now, though, the rumours will stay as just that. However, the longer it takes for Messi to commit his future to PSG, the louder these rumours will undoubtedly get.


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