RIYADH: A report by AFP that Argentine superstar Lionel Messi will play in Ƶ next season has been dismissed by one of his representatives on Tuesday.
According to the French press agency, a source with knowledge of the negotiations between Messi and a Saudi club commented that a "huge" deal had been agreed.
“Messi is a done deal. He will play in Ƶ next season,” said the source, speaking on condition of anonymity and without naming the club.
Rumors have been circulating recently that the World Cup winner will join Al-Hilal in Riyadh.
“The contract is exceptional. It’s huge. We are just finalising some small details,” the source added.
A representative for Messi dismissed the comments, telling CNN that the player will decide on his future at the end of the current season. Al-Hilal did not comment on the reports.
Asked about the comments, Messi’s current club Paris Saint-Germain simply noted that he remains under contract until June 30.
A separate PSG source said: “If the club had wanted to renew his contract, it would have been done earlier.”
The 35-year-old World Cup winner was suspended by Qatari-owned PSG last week for an unauthorised trip to Saudi, where he is a tourism ambassador.
Messi’s expected arrival in the Kingdom follows in the footsteps of his arch-rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who joined Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr in a massive deal in January.
Ronaldo’s agreement to June 2025 is said to total more than $439million, making him the world’s highest paid athlete according to Forbes.
