Paris Saint-Germain are weighing up whether to let Lionel Messi leave for free this summer, according to reports in France.
The superstar forward led Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar and has been in fine form this season, with 18 goals in 32 appearances.
But the French giants were hit by Financial Fair Play sanctions in September and were fined £8.6million, with a further £56.3m dependent on future compliance, meaning they are keen to cut costs to avoid more punishment.
Messi, 35, earns a whopping £740,000 a week, and team-mate Sergio Ramos, 37, is also on a significant wage, with the club said to be considering letting them both leave at the end of their contracts.
And as reported by L’Equipe, Saudi Arabian clubs are ready to swoop for the pair by offering them more lucrative deals.
PSG are considering letting Lionel Messi leave for free at the end of his contract, say reports
The forward has been in fine form this season but PSG need to cut costs to avoid FFP sanctions
Both Messi, 35, and Sergio Ramos (right) could be allowed to depart for nothing this summer
PSG has launched contract negotiations with both players, but as yet no agreement has been reached with either.
The French champions are believed to want to keep both in the squad, but cannot afford to do so on their current wages, with neither showing any willingness to accept a sizeable salary cut.
Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal have reportedly been in contact with Messi’s father Jorge and offered his son a bigger wage than Al-Nassr pay the Argentine’s rival, Portuguese veteran Cristiano Ronaldo.
Meanwhile, Spanish defender Ramos is believed to have an offer worth four times his current PSG salary across a two-year deal in the Middle East.
Ramos has played 36 times this season in all competitions, proving himself a reliable member of the injury-depleted PSG backline, but the club are set to sign Inter Milan’s centre half Milan Skriniar on a free transfer this summer.
And Messi is reportedly ‘leaning towards leaving’ given the situation and the massive offers he could expect from Saudi Arabia and the MLS in America, with ‘pessimism growing stronger’ about his future in Paris, add L’Equipe.
Kylian Mbappe is essential to PSG’s team and Brazilian Neymar is under contract for four more years, making Messi the most likely of their stellar front three to depart.
Whether or not Messi and Ramos leave could go a long way in dictating manager Christophe Galtier’s transfer budget in the summer window.
The news comes as a blow to manager Christophe Galtier, who could see his squad weakened.
source: dailymail.co.uk
