Lionel Messi, the Argentine superstar also known as GOAT, will play in Saudi Arabia next season, according to a source close to the discussions, who spoke to AFP on Tuesday.
In the Saudi league, where the Gulf nation lavishes its oil wealth on sports, Messi might eventually join his bitter rival Cristiano Ronaldo.
When approached by AFP, Messi's current club Paris Saint-Germain declined to comment, saying he remained under contract until June 30.
Just months after winning the World Cup in neighboring Qatar in December, the source said Messi would sign a "huge" deal with an undisclosed Saudi team.
“Messi is a done deal. He will play in Saudi Arabia next season,” said the source, who requested anonymity because he is not authorized to make statements to the media.
“The contract is exceptional. It’s huge. We are just finalizing some small details,” added the source.
One PSG source claimed that Messi had not received a new contract offer from the French team managed by Qatar.
“If the club had wanted to renew his contract, it would have been done earlier,” stated that source.
Despite numerous speculations tying Messi to one of the top Saudi teams, Al Hilal, club sources declared to AFP they had not spoken with PSG directly.
Jorge, the father, and agent of Lionel Messi, said on Tuesday that his son has not chosen where he would play in the upcoming season.
“There is absolutely nothing agreed with any club for next year,” Messi’s father wrote on Instagram.
“The decision will not be made before Lionel finishes the league with PSG.”
Saudi Arabia is making an effort to broaden its conservative environment and expand its oil-dependent economy just five years after allowing the first non-Muslim visitors to make trips and allowing women to drive.
The largest oil exporter in the world has invested hundreds of millions in sporting events like Ronaldo's signing, Formula One in Jeddah, and the contested LIV Golf Tour, prompting regular accusations that it is "sportswashing" its human rights record.
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