Lionel Messi’s latest transfer news has sent the soccer world into a frenzy. As per Spanish journalist, Gerard Romero, Lionel Messi has decided against staying at Paris Saint-Germain. Lionel Messi, who is currently under contract at PSG until 2023, has reportedly refused to sign a new deal with the French club. There are rumors that Messi will join his arch-rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, in Saudi Arabia after Al-Hilal reportedly offered Messi a $350 million deal.
🚨🚨| BREAKING: Leo Messi is closer to NOT renewing his contract with PSG.@gerardromero [🎖️]
— Managing Barça (@ManagingBarca) January 23, 2023
There were reports that Messi had verbally agreed to a new deal with the PSG management. Messi’s entourage had stated that Messi will make a decision about his future only after the FIFA World Cup 2022. After leading Argentina to World Cup glory in December last year, everyone thought that Messi will definitely stay at PSG. However, the latest rumors of Messi wanting to leave PSG have shocked as well as excited soccer fans.
BREAKING: Al Hilal, Al Nassr’s biggest rival, would like to sign Lionel Messi and are ready to offer him just about double what Cristiano Ronaldo is earning 🇸🇦 pic.twitter.com/USes2ap0gb
— GistReel.Com (@GistReel) January 12, 2023
After Ronaldo moved to Al-Nassr, there were also reports that Al-Nassr’s rival club, Al-Hilal, wanted to sign Messi. According to Forbes, Al-Hilal is prepared to offer the seven-time-Ballon d’Or-winner a mammoth $350 million per year deal. If Messi chooses to sign with the Saudi Arabian club, he will top the $210 million per year deal offered to Ronaldo.
Al-Hilal or Barcelona? Where will Lionel Messi go next?
Although there is a possibility of Lionel Messi joining Al-Hilal, fans haven’t ruled out Messi’s return to his former club, Barcelona. Messi left FC Barcelona in 2021 after spending 20 years at the club due to Barcelona’s poor financial condition. Although there were reports of Messi’s relationship souring with the current Barca president, Joan Laporta, fans are excited at the prospect of Messi’s reunion with his boyhood club.
Messi, during his farewell speech, revealed that he desired to come back to Barca in the future. The former Barca talisman said, “I hope that I could come back and be part of this club in any moment, in any way and bring something to help this club being the best and doing the best, being the best of the world.” Even recently, Joan Laporta talked about his desire to see Messi back at Barca. Laporta said, “We would very much like him to come back, but we’ll see.”
🗣FC Barcelona President Joan Laporta on @FCBtv :
“Leo Messi is the best player of all time. His heart beats for Barça so the rumors about his return are normal. He’s a PSG player now. We’d love to have him back here one day but we will see what happens”#PSG🔴🔵🐐 pic.twitter.com/XythrdgPtI
— PSG Chief (@psg_chief) December 22, 2022
Although there hasn’t been any official statement from Messi’s entourage, fans are eagerly anticipating Messi’s future. Will there be another Ronaldo versus Messi story in Saudi Arabia? Or will Lionel Messi finally return to Barcelona to get the farewell that he deserved?