World
Football star Lionel Messi’s move to Saudi Arabia a ‘done deal,’ source says
Argentine superstar Lionel Messi will play in Saudi Arabia next season under a “huge” deal, a source with knowledge of the negotiations told AFP on Tuesday.
“Messi is a done deal. He will play in Saudi Arabia next season,” said the source, speaking on condition of anonymity and without naming the club.
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“The contract is exceptional. It’s huge. We are just finalizing some small details,” the source added.
Asked about the comments, Messi’s current club Paris Saint-Germain simply noted that he remains under contract until June 30.
A separate PSG source said: “If the club had wanted to renew his contract, it would have been done earlier.”
The 35-year-old World Cup winner was suspended by Qatari-owned PSG last week for an unauthorized trip to Saudi, where he is a tourism ambassador.
Messi’s expected arrival in the oil-rich kingdom follows in the footsteps of his arch-rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who joined Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr in a massive deal in January.
Ronaldo’s agreement to June 2025 is said to total more than 400 million euros ($439million), making him the world’s highest paid athlete according to Forbes.
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Messi back in training with PSG despite suspension
Ronaldo is world’s highest paid athlete since joining Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr: Forbes