Lionel Messi is reportedly ready to resume his legendary footballing rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo. The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner will leave Paris Saint-Germain this summer and will accept a proposal from Al Hilal to play in Saudi Arabia next season, Spanish football television program El Chiringuito reports.
El Chiringuito reports that Messi will now accept an offer from Al Hilal, the reigning champions of the Saudi Pro League. The report adds that Messi’s former Barcelona teammate Sergio Busquets is set to join him at Al Hilal as a free agent, while Jordi Alba will also make the move if he can agree a deal to end his Barca contract.
There has been talk of a £400 million ($505m) deal being readied for him by Al-Hilal – with that contract set to see him edge back ahead of eternal rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who now plays for Saudi club Al-Nassr, as the highest-paid player on the planet.
The 35-year-old Argentinian icon, who Monday night won his second Laureus World Sports Award, had signed a two-year deal with PSG on his arrival from Barcelona in 2021.
