Lionel Messi to play in Saudi Pro League next season after agreeing huge deal

Paris Saint-Germain attacker Lionel Messi has signed a huge deal ahead of a move to Saudi Arabia, reports AFP News Agency.

The Argentine maestro is in the last few months of his contract at the French club.

PSG have an option to hand him another year, but that is unlikely as both parties are expected to part ways at the end of the season.

Messi was suspended last week for an unauthorised trip to Saudi, where he is a tourism ambassador.

However, the 35-year-old has since apologised and returned to team training having been banned earlier.

Earlier reports already confirmed that Messi is set to join Al-Hilal in the summer. The contract is worth more than €400 million per year.

Cristiano Ronaldo joined Al Nassr last December after his contract with Manchester United was terminated.

The Portuguese earns around €200m a year, but his rival is set to pocket double that figure.

Messi moving to Saudi will be a blow for his former club Barcelona.

The La Liga club are hoping to bring him back in the summer, but they will need to balance the books to do so.

Barca cannot match the spending power of Al Hilal, and it appears Messi has opted against returning to Spain.

Saudi Pro League are looking to sign up to 50 players from Europe’s top five leagues this summer.

Having already snapped up Ronaldo, Messi is next on the radar and more players out of contract this summer would be targeted.

Sergio Busquets, Wilfried Zaha and Jordi Alba have also been linked with similar moves.

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