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‘We don’t know anything about an arrival!’ Saudi Arabia’s football boss DENIES that Lionel Messi is following Cristiano Ronaldo by joining a club in the country this summer… with the Argentine ‘extremely close to signing a new contract at PSG’
- Lionel Messi has been linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League this summer
- However, a Saudi soccer boss insisted no deal talks are taking place.
- He stated that they would like to see the Argentine join a Saudi club in the future.
The secretary general of the Saudi Football Federation has poured cold water on rumors that Lionel Messi will join a club in the country this summer, but insisted they would like to see the Argentinian superstar play in the Saudi Pro League (SPL). ) in the future. .
Messi’s contract with PSG is due to expire in June and while he is said to have assured the French giants that he will sign an extension, interest has sprung up from Saudi Arabia in recent weeks, which could make it difficult for him to stay. France.
Saudi teams Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal have reportedly been interested in a move for Messi after his long-term rival Cristiano Ronaldo completed a deal to join Al-Nassr.
A Saudi soccer boss denied that Lionel Messi was joining a club in Saudi Arabia this summer
Reports had even indicated Messi was in line for a £245m-a-year deal to join Al-Nassr’s arch-rivals Al-Hilal after his father Jorge was rumored to be in Riyadh.
However, Ibrahim Alkassim, the secretary general of the Saudi Football Federation, denied that there were any talks between Messi and an SPL club, but insisted that the country would love to have the 35-year-old playing in the league in the future.
He told Mark: At the moment we do not know anything about a possible arrival of Lionel Messi, although it is not hidden that, as the Saudi Federation, we would like to have him one day in the domestic league.
Cristiano Ronaldo completed a staggering £175m a year deal to join Al-Nassr last month
“The idea of the Federation is always to improve our football, and of course we would like to see Cristiano and Messi in the same league again, but the truth is that now we don’t know anything.”
Elsewhere, his childhood club Barcelona, along with MLS side Inter Miami, have also been touted as possible destinations for Messi.
Nevertheless, the Marca report went on to say that Messi has not received any formal offer from Saudi Arabia or the MLS and that he will stay at PSG.
The Argentinian superstar is reportedly very close to signing a new contract with PSG.
Messi (left) faced his old rival Ronaldo (right) in an exhibition match in Saudi Arabia this week.
After receiving a contract offer from the French club, the two parties are putting the final touches on the deal – with a deal done – with PSG expected to announce its extension in the near future.
Messi is keen to win one more Champions League trophy, having won four during his time at Barcelona, in what is a great motivation to sign his new contract.
The Argentine had appeared in an exhibition game for PSG against an Al-Nassr/Al-Hilal All-Stars XI in Saudi Arabia this week, adding to speculation that this could be a precursor to a move to a club there.
Facing his great rival Ronaldo, both players scored as the French giants won 5-4.