The Saudi League has become an option for the Argentine star
Tuesday – 13 Ramadan 1444 AH – 04 April 2023 AD
Paris: «Asharq Al-Awsat»
The hypothesis of the departure of the Argentine star, Lionel Messi, from Paris Saint-Germain, at the end of his contract next June, seems to be “the most likely, but not certain,” according to what a source close to the club said on Tuesday, “to the French Press Agency.”
The source said, “No agreement was signed, but the dynamic has completely changed. Paris Saint-Germain is pressing less for renewal.” But Messi “has not left yet.”
The source pointed out that the position of the fans, some of whom booed the Argentine star during the match that Saint-Germain lost to Lyon 0-1 on Sunday, “completely changed the facts,” after the trend was referring to the extension after the return of the “flea” triumphant in the World Cup.
However, since achieving the supreme title in the Qatar World Cup, following the victory over France teammate Kylian Mbappe on penalties (a 3-3 draw after extension), Messi has been less brilliant with Saint-Germain. Like other colleagues, he did not do much to avoid his club being excluded from the Champions League final price against Bayern Munich (losing 0-3 on aggregate).
In 67 matches for the Parisian jersey, Messi, the best player in the world seven times, scored 29 goals and provided 32 assists. After a wobbly first season, he scored a start for the 2022-2023 season until the World Cup in Qatar.
In the event of his departure, Messi could return to FC Barcelona or join the Saudi League, where his biggest rival, Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo, plays, or even the Major League Soccer (MLS), where Inter Miami wants to sign him.