Lionel Messi Barcelona Return ‘Ruled Out’, Player Prefers Saudi Arabia

Lionel Messi’s potential return to FC Barcelona is ‘almost ruled out’, with the player’s father and agent Jorge Messi preferring a move to Saudi Arabia according to Beteve.

Messi becomes a free agent on June 30 when his two-year Paris Saint Germain contract expires. Though the Argentine’s “desire remains to return to FC Barcelona” Beteve reports, Jorge Messi has been “seduced” by the mouthwatering offer made to them by Al-Hilal.

According to El Chiringuito, Messi has already accepted a €350 million ($377 million) a season offer to continue his career in the Middle East which would immediately set him up to dethrone generational rival Cristiano Ronaldo at the top of Forbes’ list of the World’s Highest-Paid Athletes.

Jorge Messi released a social media statement denying they have an agreement in place with any club. According to Beteve, though, the leader of the Messi camp prefers to take the big money from the Saudis and Lionel Messi will not “contradict any will of his father” for whom he has “absolute respect”.

Barca have suffered a setback in their plans to see Messi return. Only able to offer him a paltry €25 million ($27 million) a year in comparison SPORT reports, the Catalans are having to prove to La Liga that they can make their greatest-ever player’s second stint at the club work amid financial difficulties.

This must be done through putting together a convincing viability plan showing how they can shed €200 million ($216 million) from the wage bill to make new signings, but La Liga has requested an extra fortnight to mull over the documents according to AS.

With money no object for Al-Hilal who have cash at the ready, the Messis’ patience could be tested and hold-ups in Spain may further persuade the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner to flee to Saudi Arabia.

News that Messi looks likely to head to the Middle East comes on the same day Mundo Deportivo reported how Ronaldo “can’t take it anymore” at Al-Hilal’s rivals Al-Nassr and is already fed up of life there after his January switch from Premier
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League giants Manchester United.