Close source says Messi's move to Saudi 'done deal'
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A source says Lionel Messi will play in Saudi Arabia next season.
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2023 Paris St Germain's Lionel Messi with his wife Antonela Roccuzzo and their sons during a visit to Saudi Arabia on May 1, 2023 (Reuters)
Lionel Messi, the Argentine superstar, will play in Saudi Arabia next season under a "huge" agreement, a person familiar with the discussions told AFP on Tuesday.
According to the source who spoke anonymously and without mentioning the club, "Messi is a done deal. He will play in Saudi Arabia next season."
"The contract is exceptional. It's huge. We are just finalising some small details," the source indicated.
When questioned about the remarks, Messi's current club, Paris Saint-Germain, stated that the World Cup champion is under contract until June 30.
According to another PSG source, "If the club had wanted to renew his contract, it would have been done earlier."
Messi apologized to Paris Saint-Germain and his teammates on Friday after skipping training earlier in the week due to an unapproved vacation to Saudi Arabia.
His future at PSG was brought into question on Wednesday after he was suspended by the club over his trip to Saudi Arabia without permission.
Messi's planned entrance into the oil-rich country comes in the footsteps of his archrival Cristiano Ronaldo, who signed a lucrative deal with Saudi Pro League team Al Nassr in January.
According to Forbes, Ronaldo's contract through June 2025 is worth more than 400 million euros ($439 million), making him the world's most paid athlete.
