According to reports, the government of Saudi Arabia is preparing to offer Lionel Messi the biggest deal in football history to bring him to the Saudi Pro League this summer. Messi is set to leave PSG after being suspended for two weeks due to an unauthorized trip to Saudi Arabia, where he was promoting tourism in the country alongside his wife, Antonella Roccuzzo.
The government of Saudi Arabia are lining up the biggest deal in football history to bring Lionel Messi to the Saudi Pro League this summer – and the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner’s wife, Antonella Roccuzzo, could also play a part in the potential move.
The potential deal could see Messi earn an incredible €363.6m (£320m) per year, almost twice as much as fellow multiple Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo, who joined Al-Nassr in January.
It remains to be seen where Messi will end up, but Al-Hilal, the biggest rival of Al-Nassr, may be an option. The last time Messi and Ronaldo played in the same league was during the 2017/18 season, Ronaldo’s final season with Real Madrid.
Messi’s ban means he will play three more games at most for PSG
Is a Camp Nou homecoming still in the offing?
There have been rumors of a potential return to Barcelona for Messi, and the club has reportedly met with LaLiga to discuss the possibility of re-signing their greatest ever player. However, the financial aspect of such a move could be an issue, as it’s unlikely any elite European club can offer anywhere near the reported wages that Messi could earn in Saudi Arabia.
Messi, who turns 36 in June, joined PSG as a free agent in the summer of 2021 after leaving Barcelona. He has made 71 appearances for the reigning Ligue 1 champions, scoring 31 goals. Whether Messi ends up in Saudi Arabia, back at Barcelona, or elsewhere, it’s clear that the financial aspect of any potential deal will play a significant role in the decision-making process.