Barcelona dealt blow in Lionel Messi pursuit as Saudi move nears

As the end of the season draws near, Lionel Messi faces his final days as a player for Paris Saint-Germain. While his departure from the club has been announced, the Argentine superstar’s future is becoming clearer by the day, with the option of a return to Barcelona gradually fading. Instead, the possibility of joining Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal is gaining momentum, creating a dream scenario of seeing Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo play together in the Saudi championship.

Discussions between Messi’s representatives and Al Hilal‘s leadership began several months ago. The initial contacts were established as a result of an agreement with the Saudi Ministry of Information and Tourism, which saw Messi become the face of the country, similar to Ronaldo. The government’s efforts to promote the development of football and showcase the positive changes in Saudi Arabia have played a crucial role in shaping an offer that is difficult to refuse.

The contract on the table is reported to be worth slightly over 300 million euros for each of the two seasons, encompassing more than just sporting aspects. In Riyadh, football is viewed as a vital element of social and political transformation, presenting the world with a different image of Saudi Arabia through the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Leo Messi.

Al Hilal has faced a year-long FIFA sanction preventing them from making signings due to a contractual dispute that arose years ago. This sanction is expected to end soon, and the potential arrival of Messi would serve as a grand statement of their return to the football scene.

If the Argentine maestro does make the move to Arabian lands, he may not be the only Barcelona player to do so. It is speculated that Di María, Busquets, and Jordi Alba could also venture into Arab football, although not necessarily joining Al Hilal. The government has implemented an economic support system for all clubs to level the playing field and facilitate significant transfers. The goal is to promote fair competition and establish a sporting hierarchy with the aid provided. The most recent prominent name to enter Arab football is Karim Benzema.

Meanwhile, in the Saudi championship, the title has been claimed by Al Ittihad, a team from the city of Jeddah, despite the hopes of Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassar. The championship race concluded with Al Nassar drawing against Al Ettifaq, led by Spanish coach Antonio Cazorla.

As the speculation surrounding Messi’s future intensifies, football fans eagerly await official confirmation of his destination for the upcoming season. The prospect of witnessing Messi and Ronaldo playing in the Saudi championship is a tantalizing possibility that would undoubtedly captivate the football world.