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Lionel Messi’s transfer saga is coming to an end, with the Barcelona legend poised to reject a return to Camp Nou in favor of a move to the Saudi Pro League that will earn him the richest contract in sports.
Abdul Aziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, the Saudi minister of sports, has all but confirmed that Messi and Real Madrid sensation Karim Benzema will be joining Cristiano Ronaldo in the Saudi Pro League this summer.
Messi’s contract with PSG expires at the conclusion of the current season, and he will not renew it with the Ligue 1 club.
Meanwhile, Sport quotes the sports minister as saying, “Benzema and Messi? The institutions will make an official announcement in due time.”
Although it is unknown which Saudi Pro League clubs Messi and Ronaldo will join, it is anticipated that Messi will join Al-Hilal to compete directly with Ronaldo once more.
Messi to be joined by Benzema in Saudi Pro League
Barcelona had hoped that Lionel Messi would make a dramatic return to Camp Nou this summer, but it appears that Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations will prevent this.
Reports indicate that the club is collaborating with David Beckham’s Inter Miami to create a loan arrangement. However, it appears that even this is beyond the Camp Nou side.
Messi does not want to wait the entire summer for Barcelona to find a solution, and his father Jorge is reportedly pressuring him to accept the lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia.
Benzema is also likely to relocate to Saudi Arabia on a free transfer, as the Real Madrid player’s contract expires at the end of the current campaign.
Kylian Mbappe of Paris Saint-Germain is likely to be out of Los Blancos’ price range until he becomes a free agent next summer, while their other long-term target Erling Haaland is immovable at Manchester City.
Al-Faisal has indicated that both Messi and Benzema’s contracts will be announced once their respective seasons in France and Spain conclude.
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