Soccer legend Lionel Messi has been the subject of many transfer rumors ever since the World Cup. In a new development in the Messi-saga, the Saudi Arabian club, Al-Hilal, have offered a massive contract of around $440 million to the Argentine.
We had previously reported Al-Hilal’s interest in Lionel Messi after the World Cup. But the rumor has been confirmed recently by reputed journalist, Fabrizio Romano.
Al-Hilal is rivals with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League. The club wants to bring the 7-time Ballon d’Or winner to the country in order to rival Al-Nassr’s superstar signing which they completed earlier this year.
🚨 Understand Al Hilal sent an official bid to Leo Messi: salary worth more than €400m/year.
◉ Leo’s absolute priority: continue in Europe.
◉ Barcelona, waiting on FFP to send bid and open talks.
◉ PSG bid, not accepted at this stage as Messi wanted sporting guarantees. pic.twitter.com/FVTDGs4eQV
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 4, 2023
In another Saudi club, Al-Tai’s head coach had also passed various remarks around Messi recently. It seems that the Saudi League are on a mission to lure big stars to their league to up their stakes in the sport.
However, it seems like Lionel Messi doesn’t want to follow Cristiano Ronaldo into the Middle East. It has been reported that the Argentine would like to continue in Europe next season. Messi’s contract situation has taken several turns ever since the World Cup concluded in Qatar last year.
Lionel Messi wants to stay in Barcelona
Messi has been subjected to huge rumors about his return to his former club FC Barcelona. He had to leave the club in 2021 after they failed to comply with the financial rules of La Liga.
Lionel Messi’s return to FC Barcelona will be even more special, considering that he will earn €10M/season, when he could’ve been earning more than €400M/year at Al-Hilal. He loves this club more than anything. Loyalty is priceless. ❤️✨ pic.twitter.com/bZuu43T5Kf
— Managing Barça (@ManagingBarca) April 4, 2023
But it seems like the Argentine might be in for a sensational return to Camp Nou. The Catalan club is reportedly finding ways to sign Messi while also complying with the Financial Fairplay rules.
Messi reportedly wants to continue in Europe for at least until Copa America 2021. He wants to add another feather to his cap before calling it quits in Europe and moving to another continent.
Lionel Messi branded a ‘System Player’
The Argentine has been criticized massively for his performances for PSG after the World Cup. It has been alleged that the superstar is a system player who cannot accommodate at a club other than Barcelona.
Lionel Messi is a failure.
PSG signed him for 117 million euros + insane wages.
They reached the UCL final only two years before and won the league 7 times prior to his arrival. A back to back R16 exists against Porto and Lyon & ended their league dominance.
A system player! pic.twitter.com/w20zMc8D4t
— Radman (@Radmanx23) April 4, 2023
Fans have alleged that Messi needs the tactics of Barcelona to thrive, unlike Cristiano Ronaldo who can thrive at any club. Ronaldo has recently been on incredible goal-scoring form for his new club Al-Nassr. He scored a brace in Al-Nassr’s recent match against Al-Adalah while also winning the Player of The Month award in SPL for February
Messi has struggled to make a mark with PSG even though he played beside superstars like Kylian Mbappe and Neymar. This has led to widespread criticism of the player even by PSG’s fans who have been constantly booing him.
It seems like Messi’s up-and-down run at PSG might be ending soon. The club has offered to renew Messi’s contract but the Argentine seems to have already moved on and is looking for new options.