Izuchukwu OkosiThe reason behind Lionel Messi’s recent visit to Saudi Arabia has been revealed amid Paris Saint-Germain’s (PSG) decision to suspend the seven-time Ballon D’Or winner.
Messi is rumoured to be on the way back to Barcelona after a fractured relationship with the Paris billionaires but a source has hinted that the possibility of Messi working with former teammate and now head coach of Barcelona, Xavi Hernandez could be slim.
FIFA agent, Marco Kirdemir insists that Messi will not be going back to boyhood club Barcelona but instead could be playing his game in Saudi Arabia subject to his family endorsing the move.
Saudi Arabian club, Al-Hilal FC, is owned by the king of Saudi Arabia, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
Speaking via MARCA, Kirdemir said Messi’s family holds the aces.
“He’s not going to Barcelona. He wants to come back when he retires.
“He has an offer of 600 million dollars from Al-Hilal, the King’s team. Messi travelled to the country to get to know it, to see the place where he could live; if his family gives the OK, he will play in Saudi Arabia.”
Meanwhile, Messi has offered an apology for his impromptu trip to the oil rich nation.
Writing on his suspension, via his IG stories, the 2022 FIFA World Cup winner explains: “I thought there would be a holiday after the match, as it always is.
“I had Saudi trip organized and couldn’t cancel it. I apologize to my teammates and I’m waiting for what the club wants to do with me,” Messi clarified.
According to journalist, Fabrice Hawkins, Messi is ready to even lower his salary by three times just to come back. The club wants to offer him around €10M net per year.
Interestingly, respected Italian football journalist who is reputed for his most accurate transfer scoops, Fabrizio Romano, the Argentine superstar had already changed his Saudi Arabia plans for two times to respect PSG in the last few months.
“In this case, he communicated to PSG, but when he was already on flight it was impossibe for Leo to change the plans.
“He has always been a great professional at PSG, he never created any kind of problem.”
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
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