Argentine superstar, Lionel Messi, will leave Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at the end of the season, with the Ligue 1 club not planning to offer the forward a new contract.
Messi joined PSG in the summer of 2021 on a two-year deal after leaving Barcelona due to their financial issues.
The 35-year-old forward has played 71 times for the French side, scoring 31 goals, recording 34 assists and lifting the title in 2022.
Messi’s representatives were in talks over a contract renewal, with everything looking positive during the World Cup in Qatar, but the dynamic has now changed.
PSG consider the move to sign Messi to have been a success on and off the pitch, but sections of the club’s fans turned on the player after they were knocked out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich.
Messi was also suspended by PSG earlier this week for going on a personal promotional trip to Saudi Arabia without permission.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner is understood to have asked PSG for permission to travel to the country, which he did on Sunday night, having twice postponed a scheduled commercial trip due to team defeats.
However, Messi did not get that permission and was therefore suspended for two games and fined two weeks’ wages after a day of meetings between the club’s hierarchy.
Messi will now miss the Ligue 1 matches against Troyes and Ajaccio, but could return for the match against Auxerre on May 21.
READ ALSO: PSG suspend Messi for 2 weeks over trip to Saudi Arabia
The forward and the team have not been performing as well as expected since the World Cup and his departure in the summer will fit with the club’s new strategy of focusing on young French players instead of signing superstar talents.
Messi still believes he can play at the highest level in Europe and Barcelona have made no secret of their desire to re-sign him this summer.
It remains to be seen whether they can afford to offer him a new contract but he is much more likely to stay in Europe than move to Inter Miami – or any other MLS club – or Saudi Arabia at this stage of his career.
Messi was pictured in Riyadh on Monday and advertised his presence in the country on his social media.
Messi already serves as a tourism ambassador to Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal want to sign Messi this summer and, with the backing of the country, are prepared to pay him an astronomical £400m for just one season in order to market a league that already contains Cristiano Ronaldo.
Tourism minister Ahmed Al-Khateeb tweeted a welcome to Messi on Monday, as well as posting pictures of the Argentinian only hours after he had played 90 minutes of PSG’s 3-1 home defeat to Lorient.
“I am happy to welcome Messi and his family to Saudi to enjoy the magical tourist destinations and authentic experiences.
“We welcome visitors from all around the world to experience a unique trip to Saudi Arabia and its hospitality,” Al-Khateeb tweeted.
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