EXCLUSIVE: Messi to Saudi Arabia NOT done as Barcelona remain hopeful

Jacque Talbot

• Updated: 9 May 2023 11:28 BST
• 3 min read

Exclusive

Lionel Messi has not decided on his future despite reports suggesting that a move to Saudi Arabia was a ‘done deal’, FootballTransfers understands.

Those close to the player have knocked back any suggestion that Messi has signed terms with the Middle East, and told FootballTransfers that he will decide his next club at the end of the season.

Messi is still contracted to Pari Saint-Germain and is certainly open to a different club, but he will sound out proposals on the table when the campaign has concluded.

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Sources also reiterated the ‘noise’ around Messi’s supposed move to the MLS earlier this year - outlets in UK national press jumped the gun and reported that the superstar had opted to move to Inter Miami in the summer.

Of course, this wasn’t the case and Messi has continued with life at PSG. Saudi Arabia is no doubt a serious option for Messi, who is also wanted back at Barcelona. But the player is yet to sign any deal yet.

Messi returns to PSG

Messi made his return to PSG training on Monday after he was suspended by the club for an unsolicited visit to Saudi Arabia.

The club announced Messi’s return on its website, along with a picture of him training. Messi later released a video of himself apologising for the trip.

PSG have still not published whether the World Cup winner will be available for PSG’s next league game against Ajaccio, which will take place this Saturday.

Messi joined PSG in 2021 after a spellbinding period with Barcelona in which he became arguably the club’s greatest-ever player.

He has a fondness for Barca, having started there at the age of 13, but because of large debts and the Spanish league’s financial regulations, a return, at this point, seems unlikely.