Media reports regarding Paris Saint-Germain's decision not to extend the contract of Argentine striker Lionel Messi have sparked speculation about a move to a Saudi club starting next season.

A media report – published by the program "El Chiringuito" famous Spanish and specialist in football – claimed that the captain of the Argentina national team agreed to join the Saudi Al Hilal and not only this – the report adds – that the "Bulga" will not go alone to the "leader of Asia" but will move with him both Spaniards Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba friends Messi and his former colleagues in Barca.

🚨EXCLUSIVA de @Marsallorente en @elchiringuitotv

🇸🇦 Messi jugará en Arabia Saudí. Lo hará acompañado de Busquets y casi seguro de Jordi Alba. #JUGONES pic.twitter.com/YpRw4P4Gam

— El Chiringuito TV (@elchiringuitotv) May 8, 2023

In turn, the British newspaper "Telegraph" claimed – a few days ago – that Messi may end up in Al-Hilal with a contract for $ 400 million annually until June 2025.

The newspaper "Marca" (Marca) Spanish with close to Messi, who confirmed that the latter has not decided his future and his next destination yet, and continued that "Leo's goals are to win the league, then end the season well, and then determine his future, which will not be in any way before next June. Messi wants to study all the offers he has, which may come, and then decide after the end of the season."

If these reports are confirmed, Messi will be charged to:

  • $7.7 million per week
  • $1.1 million per day
  • $46K an hour
  • $763 per minute
  • $13 per second

Messi has been ambassador for tourism in Saudi Arabia since May, and played a match with Paris Saint-Germain against Al-Nasr and Al-Hilal Stars in January this year.

The newspaper "L'Equipe" that Paris Saint-Germain suspended the Argentine player for two weeks after traveling to Saudi Arabia without permission and absent from training after the defeat 1-3 at home to Lorient in the league last Sunday.

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The report added that the Argentine World Cup winner is banned from playing or training with the team, and the club will deduct his salary during the suspension period.

Messi missed Sunday's league match against Troyes (which ended in a 3-1 victory for the Parisian team), but today he returned to the Parisian team's training.

Messi had apologized to his team and teammates – last Friday – after being suspended for a trip to Saudi Arabia and missing a training session.

🎥Watch | Argentine 🇦🇷 star Lionel Messi posts on his official Instagram account an apology to his club Paris Saint-Germain @PSG_arab and his teammates after the controversy over his travel to Saudi Arabia pic.twitter.com/aHZjHZzvQk

— beIN SPORTS News (@beINSPORTSNews) May 5, 2023

Messi said, in a video on his official Instagram account, "I honestly thought that I would have a day off after the match as it was happening in previous weeks. I organised this trip and I couldn't cancel it, and I had already cancelled it before."

The Argentina captain added: "I apologise to my team-mates, and I wait for what the club wants to do with me."

Spanish reports suggested Barcelona failed to recover their former star two years after his departure, stressing that the chances of completing the deal are very low.

Messi's contract with PSG expires at the end of the 2022-2023 season, next June, amid reports that the club does not want to renew the contract.

The newspaper "Marca" believes that the chances of Messi's return to Barcelona decrease over time, despite the insistence of President Juan Laporta to sign him.

Financial fair play regulations stand in the way of Barcelona, especially if management fails to cut expenses or increase the club's income to make way for Messi's signature.