Lionel Messi's father Jorge denies Saudi Arabia move from PSG is a 'done deal', says 'nothing agreed'
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Updated 09/05/2023 at 13:55 GMT
Lionel Messi looks set for a move to Saudi Arabia according to French agency AFP. A source has informed them that a move there is 'a done deal.' However, Messi's father Jorge says nothing will be decided until the end of the season. Messi's current contract at Paris Saint-Germain expires in the summer and ends an unhappy two years in the French capital for the Argentina captain.
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Lionel Messi’s father has denied reports that a move to Saudi Arabia at the end of the season is a "done deal".
An anonymous source told AFP that Messi will be playing in Saudi Arabia next season with his current Paris Saint-Germain contract set to expire next month.
It was reported that Messi will sign a "huge" deal to join the same league as Cristiano Ronaldo, who signed for Al Nassr in January.
However, Messi's father Jorge has denied the reports and said nothing will be decided until the end of the season.
"There is absolutely nothing with anyone for next year," he said in a statement.
"The decision will never be made before Lionel finishes the league with PSG.
"Once the season is over it will be time to analyse and see what is there, and then make a decision. There are always rumours and many use the name of Lionel to gain notoriety but the truth is only one and we can assure you that there is nothing with anyone. Neither verbal, nor signed, nor agreed, and there will not be until the end of the season."
Messi's two years at PSG have failed to live up to expectations and look to be ending on a sour note after he was handed a two-week suspension following an unsanctioned promotional trip to Saudi Arabia.
Messi, who was named World Sportsman of the Year at the 2023 Laureus Awards, has not had the same love affair with PSG’s fans like he did at previous club Barcelona, and Cyril Morin of Eurosport believes the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner will not be missed.
“His behaviour during games, like walking around and showing no intensity in his work off the ball, drew plenty of criticism in the past two seasons.
“The fans believe he has been far less involved in the play than at Barcelona, and I don’t really understand what he is doing here.
“His contract renewal was supposed to be sealed during the World Cup following a verbal agreement with Jorge Messi [Lionel’s father and agent]. But since then, there was a big difficulty for PSG and Messi’s entourage to find a real agreement, mostly on the salary.
“So, in these last weeks, the feeling was more about the end of the road for Messi in PSG."
There has been plenty of speculation concerning Messi’s next move, with a romantic return to Barcelona and a trip across the Atlantic to Inter Miami both also muted as possibilities.
David Beckham’s MLS side had reportedly already held meetings with Messi’s father and agent Jorge, while MLS commissioner Don Garber told The Athletic that he is hopeful the appropriate compensation package could be found to the complete the deal.
However, a move to the Middle East almost seemed most likely from a financial sense due to the huge finances involved.
A report from The Telegraph claimed that talks have begun for a huge $400m (£320m) per year deal for Messi to join Al-Hilal.
This figure would smash the £165m-a-year contract which his long-term adversary Ronaldo is earning at Al-Hilal's rivals Al-Nassr.
Any deal is likely to make Messi the highest-paid footballer in history.
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