Lionel Messi‘s sensational big-money move to Saudi Arabia from Paris Saint-Germain this summer is a ‘done deal’, according to reports in France.
Veteran Messi, 35, widely seen as the world’s best footballer, will sign a massive contract worth £522million at Saudi side Al-Hilal despite the reported concerns of his wife Antonela Roccuzzo.
The move will see him reignite his rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo, who plays for Al-Hilal’s rivals Al-Nassr in the controversial Gulf state.
And according to AFP, a Saudi source close to the negotiations confirmed on Tuesday morning that Messi will be playing in Saudi next season, labelling the transfer ‘huge’.
The source, speaking anonymously, added the move is now a ‘done deal’. But Messi‘s father, Jorge, has shut down the reports and insisted no decision has been made about his son’s club for next season.
Forward Lionel Messi’s move to Saudi Arabia this summer is a ‘done deal’, according to reports
Argentine Messi has reportedly signed a massive £522million contract with Saudi side Al-Hilal
The Cup winner is already a tourism ambassador for the controversial Middle Eastern nation
Jorge took to social media to say: ‘There is absolutely nothing with any club for next year. The decision will never be made before Lionel finished the league with PSG.
‘Once the season is over it will be time to analyse and see what is there, and then make a decision. There are always rumors and many use the name of Lionel to gain notoriety but the truth is only one and we can assure that there is nothing with anyone. Neither verbal, nor signed, nor agreed, and there will not be until the end of the season.
‘It seems to me a lack of respect towards the media where they respond, that there are those who consciously and deliberately deceive, without providing any proof of their claims, and wanting to turn any malicious rumor into news or that is directed by someone in favor of their interests.’
It comes after Messi’s entourage also told GetFootballNewsFrance that no agreement had yet been reached with the Saudi outfit. PSG did not make a comment to AFP, other than restating that Messi’s contract lasts until June 30 this summer.
French newspaper L’Equipe had earlier claimed a verbal agreement had been reached but no contract had yet been signed.
It was reported earlier on Tuesday that his wife Antonela ‘could not imagine’ moving their family to Saudi Arabia, in what remains a potential stumbling block to the move.
She is reportedly reluctant for the couple, along with their three young sons – Thiago, 10, Mateo, 7, and Ciro, 5 – to relocate to the Middle East and she would prefer to stay in Europe.
And Messi had reportedly been prepared to wait until the end of the season to make his decision after discussing his future with his family – but it now appears those concerns have been allayed, with Messi set to move to Saudi capital city Riyadh.
L’Equipe claim the offer on the table for Messi is a two-year deal with the option of a third, which would see the player turn 38 before it expires.
It was also said Messi himself would have preferred to stay in Europe, with the star reportedly keeping an eye on the financial situation at former club Barcelona.
Messi is set to leave French giants PSG when his contract expires at the end of the season and he has now reportedly signed a £522m deal with the wealthy Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal
Messi and his wife Antonela (left) recently made a visit to Saudi Arabia with their sons Ciro and Mateo (pictured) as part of his duties as a tourism ambassador in the Middle Eastern country
Messi’s wife Antonela Roccuzzo (left) was reportedly reluctant for the couple along with their three young children to move to Saudi Arabia and would prefer that they stayed in Europe
But it now appears he has closed the door on a return to Spain.
Barcelona – where Messi played for most of his legendary career – must find around £175m to be able to register recruited players or players already on the books who they sign to new contract extensions.
Messi, an ambassador for Saudi Arabia’s joint bid for the 2030 World Cup, is strongly expected to leave PSG when his contract ends on June 30. Similar to Ronaldo, Saudi Arabia see Messi as a star of the game.
They believe that the prospect of him moving to the country is a ‘unique opportunity which is impossible to pass up’.
It’s claimed that Riyadh has been preparing its strategy for months and has ‘left nothing to chance’.
Talk of a move to Saudi heightened after he took an unauthorised trip to the country, where he holds a £25m-a-year tourism ambassadorial role. Messi’s trip went down very badly with the French giants, who suspended him for two weeks.
PSG players had a scheduled day off on the Monday but following their 3-1 defeat to Lorient the previous day, boss Christophe Galtier ordered them in for extra training.
But Messi was already in transit to Saudi Arabia and wasn’t able to turn back.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner issued a grovelling apology via social media in which he said: ‘Hello. Well, I wanted to make this video after everything that’s going on.
‘First of all, I apologise again to my team-mates at the club. I honestly thought that we were going to have the day off after the game as we had done before.
‘I had organised this trip to Saudi Arabia, which I had previously cancelled and I couldn’t go. Once again, I apologise for what I did. So here I am, waiting to see what the club wants to do, nothing more. A hug.’
Spanish outlet El Chiringuito reported Messi could be joined at Al-Hilal by his former Barcelona team-mate Sergio Busquets, who will accept a two-season deal, and potentially also Jordi Alba.
Al-Hilal are currently fourth in the Saudi Pro League, the top tier in Saudi football, with Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr in second, five points behind Al-Ittihad with four games left this season.
Ramon Diaz’s side, who play at the 68,752-capacity King Fahd International Stadium, won the league title last season but are lagging behind the leaders this campaign – potentially greasing the wheels of a stellar move for Messi.
Al-Hilal boast the likes of Argentine forward Luciano Vietto, Peruvian winger Andre Carrillo, and strikers Odion Ighalo – formerly of Manchester United – and Moussa Marega.
