Messi holds ‘thorough talks’ over summer transfer to Al Hilal

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 2 May 2023 12:34 BST
• 3 min read

Lionel Messi held ‘thorough’ talks with Al Hilal on Monday over a summer transfer to Saudi Arabia.

That is according to journalist Rudy Galetti, who reports that the Argentine superstar sat down with Al Hilal officials in Riyadh to discuss the contract offer on the table.

The meeting, which was moved from Paris to Riyadh, are understood to have gone well but there is still a lot of work to do before any official deal can be struck.

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Messi’s trip to Saudi Arabia on Monday has officially been explained as being for commercial reasons.

The Argentine became a tourist ambassador for the country last year ahead of their bid to host the 2030 World Cup.

Indeed, Messi did a paid promotion on his Instagram accoint in collaboration with Visit Saudi. "Who thought Saudi has so much green? I love to explore its unexpected wonders whenever I can," the post read.

But L’Equipe report that Messi’s trip to Saudi Arabia was unauthorized amidst growing reports that he is seriously considering the rumoured €400 million per year offer from Al Hilal.

Messi’s contract at PSG expires at the end of the season and talks to renew the deal have ground to a halt.

It had been expected for much of the season that Messi would indeed pen a renewal. However, we are now in May and still Messi has not penned an extension.

The consensus among many sections of the media is that Messi is now more likely to leave PSG than stay.

There have been four main clubs fighting it out for Messi’s services next season.

They are signing a new contract at PSG, returning to Barcelona, joining Inter Miami or moving to Saudi Arabia to play for Al-Hilal.