By Victor Kanayo
Less than 48 hours after his current club Paris Saint-Germain suspended him, there are indications that Argentine football superstar, Lionel Messi, is on his way to join arch rival Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia.
Ronaldo’s move to Saudi Arabia nearly doubled the Portuguese former Real Madrid great’s annual playing salary, making him the world’s highest-paid athlete, Forbes reported earlier this week.
Messi’s Likely Move, Rekindling New Rivalry With Ronaldo?
Any deal for Messi, whose most likely destination is Al Nassr’s rivals Al-Hilal, is almost certain to exceed the amount paid for Ronaldo.
Al-Hilal fans chanted Messi’s name and waved his shirts after the win against Al-Nassr last month.
No Fresh PSG Contract
Already, reports from France have revealed that the former Barcelona man has decided not to renew his contract with PSG at the end of the current season.
Also, French sports daily L’Equipe reported on Tuesday, that Qatari-owned PSG had suspended Messi for two weeks and decided against exercising an option to renew his contract for a third season after he made an unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia.
While PSG players were scheduled to have a day off on Monday, following their 3-1 loss to Lorient, Christophe Galtier called the squad in for training.
Messi was already on his way to Saudi Arabia, however, and could not turn back to attend and missed training.
Existing Saudi Deal Amidst Al-Hilal Talks
British newspaper, the Daily Telegraph reported on Wednesday, that representatives of the former Barcelona great were in talks with Al-Hilal over an annual contract worth around 400 million euros ($442.04 million).
The World Cup winner signed a £25m-a-year deal with Saudi Arabia last year to become a tourism ambassador.
David Beckham’s Inter Miami have also been linked with a move for the 35-year-old, who will not be short of options upon the expiry of his PSG deal this summer.
