Details of Messi's transfer to the Saudi League as of the 2023-2024 season

Argentine soccer star Lionel Messi will play next season in Saudi Arabia under an "exceptional and huge" deal after two lacklustre seasons with Paris Saint-Germain, a source familiar with the negotiations told AFP on Tuesday.

The 35-year-old Argentine star had a range of options between Saudi Arabia, the United States and even his old club Barcelona, eager to bring back the "mosquito", after high signs of his departure from his current Qatari-owned club.
But a source in Riyadh, who asked not to be named because he was not authorized to speak to the media, said: "Messi's deal is done. He will play in Saudi Arabia next season," he said, without mentioning which club he will play for.
"The contract is exceptional. It is huge. We're in the process of finalizing some small details."
Paris Saint-Germain separately told AFP that the world champion's contract is still valid until June 30.
A second source at the French club said: "If the club wanted to renew his contract, he would have done it early."
Saint-Germain recently suspended their World Cup winner last December in Qatar for travelling without the club's approval to Saudi Arabia, where he is active as a tourism ambassador to the kingdom.
On Monday, Messi returned to training after apologizing to the club and his teammates.
Messi's arrival in Saudi Arabia comes months after the arrival of his rival and rival Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo, who joined Saudi club Al-Nassr in a resounding deal last January.
The Portuguese's contract, which runs until June 2025, is believed to be worth more than €440 million, making him the highest-paid athlete, according to Forbes.
Despite the big signing, Al-Nasr is five points away from the top of the Saudi league table with four games to go until the end of the competition, while it was eliminated from the race for the King's Cup. Al Nasr are witnessing a managerial flop as French coach Rudi Garcia abruptly left in April.

- Generous financing - The massive financing of the two resounding deals comes from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, one of the world's largest sovereign wealth funds with assets exceeding $620 billion, the source said.
The source said it was the authorities "Saudi Arabia who brought him in, not a specific club. Money comes from one place, the Public Investment Fund."
"Negotiating didn't take as long as that with Ronaldo. We now know the recipe for signing world-class players."
"The plan is not only Messi and Ronaldo, but also bring in great players like this duo and also emerging players with a promising future," the source explained.
Messi is already under contract with the Saudi Tourism Authority to market it on social media, and this was the subject of Messi and his family's trip to Saudi Arabia that led to his arrest.
The kingdom sought to push Messi to join the Saudi league, and reconstitute a duel with Ronaldo after the one that caught the breath of viewers in Spain when the "Don" was carrying the colors of Real Madrid.
Several reports have recently suggested that Al Hilal have made an attractive offer for the seven-time world player of the year, which could reach €400 million a year to bring in the world champion crowned last December in Qatar.
"We want people to visit Saudi Arabia to see football stars," the source said, adding, "Who would have imagined that the domestic league matches would attract foreigners? It's just Ronaldo's influence."
- Paris supporters angered - Messi, who turns 36 in June, spent two lacklustre seasons in Paris after spending a glorious era at Barcelona where he won four Champions League titles and 10 La Liga titles, and remains an idol for the fans of this Catalan team.

The summary of some details of Messi's deal - the contract is exceptional and huge, and it will be larger than Ronaldo's
deal estimated at 440 million euros.
Messi will play from next season, and the name of the club has not been revealed.
-The deal is not officially settled and the rest of the few small details.
If PSG wanted to renew his contract, he would have done so early.