Lionel Messi is willing to wait until the end of the season before taking the next step.
The Argentina captain has an offer from Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia worth around £320 million a year that has been on the table for more than a month, but he is in no rush to accept it.
Instead, Messi is focusing on the season finale with Paris Saint-Germain, despite his current two-week suspension, and aims to end the season with the French league title.
Messi’s father Jorge has already informed PSG that he does not want to accept their offer for a further year’s contract, as he is still not convinced by their sporting project.
Barcelona and Inter Miami have strong interest, but in Barca’s case, they have yet to overcome the financial hurdles necessary to bring their former idol back to Camp Nou.
Lionel Messi has been offered a £320 million a year contract to join Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia
Messi, 35, visited Saudi Arabia last week with his wife Antonela and children Ciro and Mateo as part of his duties as tourism ambassador for the country
Messi poses with a falcon during his Saudi visit amid rumors he could play football there
PSG are also looking to sack Neymar in a bid to reconnect with their fan base and recruit young French players.
They want a central defender, a midfielder, a striker and two wingers this summer, with Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise identified as one of them.
Spanish outlet El Chiringuito reported that Messi could be joined at Al-Hilal by his former Barcelona team-mate Sergio Busquets, who will accept a two-year contract, and possibly Jordi Alba as well.
Messi is already a tourism ambassador for the country, paying £25m a year to do so, and it was an unauthorized visit to Riyadh last week that precipitated his departure from the Parc des Princes.
Messi, wife Antonela Roccuzzo and children Ciro and Mateo were photographed enjoying attractions in the capital Riyadh and Diriyah during their visit.
The PSG players had a scheduled day off on Monday, but following their 3-1 defeat to Lorient the previous day, manager Christophe Galtier ordered them extra training.
However, Messi was already on his way to Saudi Arabia – a country where he could play football next season – and could not go back.
Since the trip was not approved by Galtier, nor by sporting director Luis Campos, PSG suspended Messi for 15 days and also cut part of his wages.
On Friday, Messi apologized to the club and his teammates for missing the training session in a social media post.
“I thought we’d have a day off after the game as always,” Messi began in the 39-second clip he shared on his Instagram story.
Messi could be on the verge of joining his long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo in the Saudi Pro League
Messi released a video last week apologizing for his unauthorized trip to Saudi Arabia
‘I had organized this trip and I couldn’t cancel it. I had previously canceled it. I apologize to my teammates and I wait to see what the club wants to do with me.’
The apology was accepted and after Messi missed PSG’s 3-1 victory over Troyes on Sunday, he returned to training with them on Monday.
But despite returning to PSG early, Messi is set to leave this summer.
Fans gathered outside the club’s headquarters on Wednesday to call on the PSG board to resign, while also calling for Messi to leave the club, with the Argentine also being jeered by supporters during recent matches.
PSG have tried to extend his contract in recent months, but that is now up in the air after Monday’s developments.
If Messi’s bid from Al-Hilal is worth £320 million, it will be more than the £175 million a year Ronaldo earns at Al-Nassr.
PSG tweeted a photo of Messi on the ball during training on Monday afternoon
The 35-year-old signed a £25 million a year contract with Saudi Arabia last year to become a tourism ambassador
Messi’s mission will be to return Al-Hilal to the top of the Saudi Pro League and re-establish them as a dominant force in Asian continental football.
They are currently fourth in the domestic standings, seven points behind second-placed Al-Nassr and ten points behind the leader Al-Ittihad.
El Chiringuito reports that Spain’s former defensive midfielder, Busquets, 34, will also move to Al-Nassr after accepting their proposal.
Busquets, who has played most of his career alongside Messi, is set to expire this summer and is reportedly unimpressed by Barcelona’s ‘very low’ renewal offer.
The poor Catalan side has huge financial problems that limit the wages they can offer players.
Long-serving left-back Alba, 34, could also leave Nou Camp and El Chiringuito says he will also move to Al-Hilal if he agrees to end his contract with Barcelona, which still has a year left.
Sergio Busquets could be reunited with Messi at Al-Hilal after playing together in Barcelona
Jordi Alba is another Barcelona player who could be tempted to the Middle East this summer