Following a transfer deal that would have put the Paris Saint-Germain player on the same salary as Cristiano Ronaldo, the father and agent of Lionel Messi, Jorge Messi, has arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.
The superstar’s contract renewal negotiations were put on hold by PSG when the rumored offer was made. Ronaldo finalized his spectacular transfer to Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr two months ago, and he will make almost £173 million a year at the club.
It is reported that the offer to Lionel Messi contains the same conditions as Ronaldo’s, with the contract offer encompassing not only the player’s main wage but also their image rights and several contractual responsibilities.
Leo Messi has been linked to a move to Al Hilal, the traditionally largest club in the Middle Eastern country. Al Hilal is currently under a transfer ban, however they anticipate being able to recruit players in summer.
Jorge Messi is in Saudi Arabia!
via @gerardromero] pic.twitter.com/yCvMBEYLmd
— Leo Messi 🔟 (@WeAreMessi) March 14, 2023
The contract talks for Messi to stay at the French capital stalled when PSG paused all contract renewal talks as they look to avoid further punishment by UEFA’s Financial Fair Play (FFP). PSG were one of 10 clubs fined for breaching FFP last year. They were fined €10 Million with a further €45 Million suspended alongside Champions League sanctions should they fail to comply with FFP going forwards.
According to Marca, Messi’s father Jorge visited the Saudi capital this week. It has been asserted that this trip was made for business purposes because Messi serves as an ambassador for the country’s tourism board, but it is also possible that transfer negotiations took place during this trip.
A similar matchup to their El Clasico rivalry between 2009 and 2018 would take place in the capital of the Middle Eastern country, featuring Messi against Ronaldo.
