Lionel Messi to Saudi Arabia: Optimism grows over massive €1 billion offer; father Jorge Messi slams rumors
CBSN
Messi will have his pick of Saudi clubs ... including a possible union with great rival Cristiano Ronaldo
Optimism is growing in Saudi Arabia that Lionel Messi will chose to make €1 billion move to the Pro League once his contract with Paris Saint-Germain expires, with the World Cup winner to be given his pick of the league's top clubs. Representatives of the 35-year-old superstar are understood to have met with three potential clubs: Al Nassr, Al Hilal and Al Ittihad, as well as Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund.
CBS Sports sources in Saudi Arabia have expressed confidence that he will ultimately follow in the footsteps of his great rival Cristiano Ronaldo in joining the Pro League. Indeed, the option for the two to play alongside each other will be open to the Argentine, who could earn €1 billion in total across a two-year contract in the country.
That potential deal would well eclipse even the €200 million-a-year pact Cristiano Ronaldo is currently on in Saudi Arabia and is almost certainly beyond the reach of his other suitors, Major League Soccer's Inter Miami CF and his former club Barcelona. The MLS side is reportedly prepared to offer Messi an ownership stake to sweeten their offer while Barcelona face a challenge to even clear salary space for him due to La Liga's salary cap mechanism.
