Amid the frenzied hypothesis surrounding Lionel Messi’s future footballing endeavors, his father intervened Tuesday to quell the rumors, confirming that no concrete agreements have been reached concerning a possible transfer to Saudi Arabia or a return to Barcelona.
Messi’s contract with Paris Saint-Germain runs till the tip of June, and his father Jorge Messi mentioned nothing shall be determined earlier than PSG’s season finishes on June 3.
“There are always rumors and many use the name of Lionel to gain notoriety but there’s only one truth and we can assure you that there is nothing with anyone,” Jorge Messi posted on his Instagram account. “Neither verbal, nor signed, nor agreed, and there gained’t be something till the tip of the season.”
The guessing sport escalated Tuesday into the place the World Cup winner from Argentina will play subsequent season. Staying at PSG appears essentially the most unlikely consequence, whereas Inter Miami in Major League Soccer can be chasing the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner.
French media earlier reported that Messi has a verbal cope with an unnamed Saudi membership, a transfer that might put him again into the identical league as Cristiano Ronaldo. But one soccer switch gossip specialist, Fabrizio Romano, was fast to replace his 14.6 million followers on Twitter that there shall be no determination till after the season.
Jorge Messi validated that.
“There’s absolutely no agreement with any club for next season,” he wrote on Instagram. “The determination gained’t be taken previous to Lionel end(ing) the season with PSG. We will assess the scenario on the finish of the season.”
League chief PSG has 4 video games left and ends the marketing campaign at residence to Clermont. Messi has scored 15 league objectives to date and tops the charts with 15 assists.
Both Barcelona and Al Hilal clearly need Messi, who turns 36 subsequent month and in addition desires to maintain taking part in for Argentina. South American qualifying for the 2026 World Cup begins in September, with Argentina at residence in opposition to Ecuador.
Messi’s journey final week to Saudi Arabia – and subsequent suspension by PSG for the unauthorized absence – has re-ignited discuss he’ll play within the Middle Eastern nation if he leaves the French capital as anticipated. One French media report claimed Messi has agreed to an enormous cope with an unnamed Saudi membership value no less than 500 million euros ($548 million).
PSG declined to remark when requested by The Associated Press if there’s an settlement in place for Messi to go away the membership.
Messi was linked with a transfer to Riyadh-based Saudi membership Al Hilal final month, the identical metropolis the place Ronaldo’s workforce, Al Nassr, is situated.
Messi performed in opposition to Ronaldo in January in an exhibition sport in Riyadh, with the Qatari-owned PSG going through a mixed workforce from Al Nassr and Al Hilal. Ronaldo’s arrival has already boosted Saudi Arabia’s soccer profile within the Middle East in a regional rivalry fueled by Qatar internet hosting final 12 months’s World Cup.
Having Messi taking part in in opposition to Ronaldo would do much more for the nation as Saudi Arabia prepares to stage the Club World Cup for the primary time in December.
Messi returned to coaching with PSG this week after the membership lifted his suspension following the promotional journey to Saudi Arabia. He missed follow final Monday, the day after PSG’s 3-1 loss to Lorient. The membership introduced his suspension final Tuesday.
Messi subsequently apologized to the membership and his teammates for touring with out PSG’s permission.
Messi joined PSG on a two-year deal after tearfully leaving financially stricken Barcelona in opposition to his will in 2021, with an possibility for an additional 12 months if each events agreed. His contract runs till the tip of June, however talks about extending reportedly broke down, making Messi’s exit appear inevitable.
Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez, who’s poised to guide his workforce to the Spanish league title this season, has overtly mentioned he desires his former teammate to return again.
Barcelona is the membership closest to the guts of Messi and his household. They moved to Spain in 2001 and Messi scored 672 objectives – together with a rare 50-goal league season in 2012 – and gained 4 Champions League trophies with Barcelona amongst a glittering array of silverware.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta can be desirous to deliver Messi again however should overcome the membership’s extreme money owed and restrictions imposed by the Spanish league.
Barcelona’s return to the Champions League may be affected by an ongoing UEFA investigation into funds of hundreds of thousands of {dollars} over greater than a decade to an organization linked to a Spanish refereeing official. No proof of suspected match-fixing has but emerged.
Playing in Saudi Arabia would reduce the wear and tear and tear on Messi’s physique whereas additionally providing lower-quality video games forward of World Cup qualifying and the 2024 Copa America within the United States, with Argentina the defending champion.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
