Major setback for Barcelona in Lionel Messi pursuit

Lionel Messi, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, is rumored to have a “done deal” to join Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia. The Argentine is expected to reunite with his eternal rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who currently plays for Al-Nassr.

Messi’s future has been a topic of intense speculation since he opted against renewing his contract with Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain, making him a free agent this summer. Despite links to Barcelona, financial struggles at Camp Nou have made an emotional return challenging, and a move to the MLS side Inter Miami, co-owned by David Beckham, has been ruled out.

AFP reports that Al-Hilal is preparing a £400 million ($505m) contract for Messi, which would make him the highest-paid player in the world, surpassing Ronaldo’s earnings. However, Messi’s recent ban from PSG after a trip to Saudi Arabia has raised questions about his interest in the Middle East.

Barcelona can still bring Lionel Messi back to Camp Nou

Although AFP claims that a deal has been finalized, GOAL reports that no club’s offer has been accepted by Messi and his entourage. It is reported that no decision on his future will be made until the end of the 2022-23 season. A report from L’Equipe supports this, dismissing talk of verbal agreements and signatures on paperwork as a long-running saga continues.

The prospect of Messi and Ronaldo playing against each other once again in Saudi Arabia is an exciting one for football fans, who have long admired the two players’ rivalry. Messi and Ronaldo’s rivalry could see both Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr emerge as a dominant forces in Asian football, and the teams’ success could even be a boost for the country’s bid to host the 2030 World Cup.

It remains to be seen if Leo will indeed move to Al-Hilal or return to Barcelona, but the rumours have certainly added to the excitement of the football world.