Barca, Al-Hilal among suitors as Messi set to leave PSG: reports

An emotional return to childhood club Barcelona along with a sensational move to the Saudi Pro League is on the cards for World Cup winner Lionel Messi as the Argentinian is set to leave Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the season. 

A report by The Guardian suggests that final doubts over whether he would stay in the French capital were extinguished the day after the forward was suspended by PSG for two weeks. It also said that Messi's father, Jorge, told PSG a month ago that the Argentina international would seek a move.

According to the report, Barcelona are trying to re-sign Messi, but it remains unclear whether they can agree a deal within the framework of La Liga's financial fair play rules. It also says that Messi has received a huge offer of more than £350m a year from the Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal while Major League Soccer club Inter Miami are also pushing for him.

Messi's reported potential £350m a year deal would exceed even the £165 million that his long-time nemesis Cristiano Ronaldo is being paid annually to play in Saudi until the summer of 2025. 

Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr, currently second in the league behind leaders Al-Ittihad. Al-Nassr's traditional rivals are Al-Hilal and placing Messi with that club, historically the nation's most successful, would recreate the rivalry the pair had for nine years with Real Madrid and Barcelona. Al-Hilal won the Asian Champions League equivalent in 2021, their fourth title in that competition.

Messi joined PSG in 2021 on a contract that includes an option for a third season, but that will not be activated, the report said further.

The Argentinian is a tourism ambassador for Saudi Arabia and his camp argue he arranged a trip there that coincided with a period without training, only for a session to be added on Monday -- at which point he could not change his plans.