Any desire Lionel Messi might have to move to Saudi Arabia could be swayed by his wife, who is reportedly hesitant about the family’s move to the Gulf state.
The Argentina World Cup winner has a bid from Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal, earning him a contract worth a staggering £522 million.
If the Paris Saint-Germain star joins the Saudi club, it would renew his rivalry with longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who joined Al-Nassr in late December.
Messi is prepared to wait until the end of the season to make his decision – one that could be influenced by his wife Antonela Roccuzzo.
French publication L’Equipe have reported that Antonela “can’t imagine” their family moving to Saudi Arabia.
Lionel Messi’s wife Antonela Roccuzzo (left) is reportedly reluctant if the couple move to Saudi Arabia with their three children and would rather they stay in Europe
Messi is on the verge of leaving PSG at the end of the season and he has a bid on the table from Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal, worth a whopping £522 million.
Messi and his wife recently visited Saudi Arabia with their sons Ciro and Mateo as part of his duties as tourism ambassador to the country
It’s that she’s reluctant for the couple, along with their three young sons – Thiago, 10, Mateo, 7, and Ciro, 5 – to move to the Middle East and would rather stay in Europe.
L’Equipe claims the offer on the table for Messi is a two-year contract with the option of a third contract, which would see him turn 38 by the end.
Messi himself would rather stay in Europe and he is reportedly keeping an eye on the financial situation at ex-club Barcelona.
However, the Spanish giants where Messi made his storied career need to find around £175 million to sign recruited players or players already on the books for new contract extensions.
Like Ronaldo, Saudi Arabia sees Messi as a star of the game and believes the prospect of him moving to the country is a “unique opportunity that you can’t pass up.”
It is said that Riyadh has been preparing its strategy for months and has ‘left nothing to chance’.
Messi’s contract with PSG expires at the end of the season and the 35-year-old looks set to leave the club where he has struggled to build the same affinity as he did at Barcelona.
Talk of moving to Saudi Arabia intensified after he made an unauthorized trip to Saudi Arabia, where he holds a £25 million-a-year tourism ambassador role.
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
Messi’s trip was very disappointing with the French giants who suspended him for two weeks.
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.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner issued a fawning apology via social media saying: ‘Hello. Well, I wanted to make this video after all that’s happening.
“First of all, I apologize once again to my teammates at the club. I really thought we would have a day off after the game like we had before.
PSG tweeted a photo of Messi on the ball during training on Monday afternoon
The 35-year-old (pictured next to Antonela) signed a £25 million a year contract with Saudi Arabia last year to become a tourism ambassador
Roccuzzo (left) would prefer the family to stay in Europe, something Messi (right) would also prefer – although he has a big offer on the table to consider from Saudi side Al Hilal
“I had organized this trip to Saudi Arabia, which I canceled earlier and I couldn’t go. My apologies again for what I did. So here I am, waiting for what the club wants to do, nothing more. A hug.’
However, Messi has now returned to training after his suspension was lifted.
During the family’s recent trip to Saudi Arabia, Messi was photographed along with Antonela and his children enjoying attractions in the capital Riyadh and Diriyah.
Messi focuses on the season finale with Paris Saint-Germain and wants to close the campaign with the French national title.
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.