Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal have offered around €400,000,000 to Lionel Messi to join them, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The Argentine attacker will reportedly leave Paris Saint-Germain this summer after the club decided not to pursue an extension.
Les Parisiens are ready to let him walk for free after his recent unremarkable performances.
Interestingly, Al Hilal play in the same league as Al Nassr, where his archrival Cristiano Ronaldo plays. Al Hilal (3rd) are directly below Al Nassr on the Saudi Pro League table.
It is unclear whether Messi will accept the Saudi mega offer. He is in the twilight of his career and could take the pay to finish in the Gulf state.
However, there are rumours that the player favours a move back to Barcelona on a free transfer this summer. The Catalans have been meeting with Messi’s father, who doubles as his agent.
At first, they met over a tribute to the 35-year-old for winning the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Although, those discussions are now about bringing the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner back to the Spotify Camp Nou.
That deal will not be easy, considering Barcelona’s dire financial situation. They are yet to resolve all the financial troubles they are in.
Taking on the massive wages Messi commands will further cripple their barely-standing finances.
Also, there is the issue of La Liga allowing Messi’s deal to go through. La Liga president Javier Tebas has done his best to keep the league’s table-toppers honest about their finances.
Tebas has kept a hawk’s eye on Barcelona’s finances. He claimed La Liga did not allow Barca to sign any players in the January transfer window.
Furthermore, he claimed La Liga would not allow them to sign players this summer if they do not sell assets.
Tebas will likely make any Messi return very difficult for Barcelona.
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