Lionel Messi’s father, Jorge, arrived in Saudi Arabia after the PSG star was offered a transfer proposal that would put him the same wage packet as Ronaldo.
Two months ago, Cristiano Ronaldo completed a stunning move to Saudi Arabia club Al-Nassr. The Portuguese star currently earns in the region of £173million per year.
Subsequently, in France, PSG paused contract renewal talks with Lionel Messi. And as a result, the Saudi club, Al-Hilal has sent Messi a transfer proposal offer.
The reported offer to Messi contains similar conditions as Ronaldo’s. The contract offer encompassing not only the player’s main wage but also their image rights and several contractual responsibilities.
While Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr, it is their city rivals Al-Hilal who have been linked with a move for Messi. Al-Hilal are currently observing a transfer ban but believe they will be in a position to sign players this summer.
Messi joined PSG on a two-year contract in the 2021 summer with a deal up for renewal in June. The Argentine had a difficult debut season in Paris. However, this season, the star has netted 18 goals and porivided 19 assists.
Despite him speaking of his happiness at adapting to life in France, his future was cast into doubt. PSG paused contract renewl talks as they look to avoid further punishment by compromising UEFA’s Financial Fair Play.
As a result, Messi’s fathe, Jorge, travelled to the Saudi capital this week. While it has been claimed that his journey was for commercial reasons, this trip could have encompassed transfer talks.
Suppose the move happens, it would pit Messi against Ronaldo in the Middle Eastern nation’s capital-reminiscent of their El Clasico rivalry between 2009 and 2018.
Messi has been linked with a return to Barcelona also. But he has been refusing to answer phone calls made on behalf of a negotiator close to Joan Laporta who is desparate for the Argentine star to return to Camp Nou.
As such, it apears as though Messi has entirely ended his relations with Laporta whom he feels misled him over his future two summers ago.