A source close to Messi confirms receiving an official offer from Saudi Al Hilal
A source close to Lionel Messi, captain of Argentina's World Cup-winning team, told Reuters that Messi had received an official offer to join Saudi club Al Hilal next season. The source added that the offer made by the Saudi club is the only offer that Messi has received so far. Argentine media reported that the offer was worth about $400 million a year. Al-Hilal did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside normal working hours.
Media reports linked the 35-year-old Messi to a possible return to his childhood club Barcelona and also said that US club Inter Miami could be a potential destination for Messi. French sports newspaper L'Equipe reported on Tuesday that Paris Saint-Germain would not extend the contract of Argentine striker Messi because he traveled to Saudi Arabia without permission. Messi signed a two-season contract with the option to extend for another season when he joined the French champions in 2021.
The newspaper said club officials had decided not to activate the clause. Paris Saint-Germain suspended the Argentine for two weeks after travelling to Saudi Arabia and missing training after a 3-1 defeat to Lorient in the league on Sunday. Messi has been ambassador for tourism in Saudi Arabia since May, playing a match for Paris Saint-Germain against Al Nasr and Al Hilal Stars in January this year. Arch-rival Cristiano Ronaldo signed with Saudi club Al Nassr last December in a deal that was reportedly worth around $220 million a year.
Another source close to Messi told Reuters PSG had punished him with a suspension after the striker told the French club he would not stay in Paris after this season and felt the club lacked a project. The source added that Paris Saint-Germain did not have any training last Monday within its schedule and that the decision to hold a training session was taken only after Messi was already in Saudi Arabia. A source close to Paris Saint-Germain denied this, telling Reuters that Messi had travelled without permission from the French club despite having a training session on Monday. The source did not comment on whether Messi had already informed PSG that he planned to leave at the end of the season.