Lionel Messi is being lined up to join the Saudi Pro League, and reunite with old rival Cristiano Ronaldo, when his time at Paris Saint-Germain is over.
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He might be 35-years-old but Messi showed no signs of slowing down his career when winning the World Cup for the first time last month.
The Argentina star won the Golden Ball for the best player at the tournament, and even suggested he wouldn’t be retiring from the national team just yet.
It’s no surprise that reports are linking with him staying on at PSG for longer than his initial two year contract, which is due to expire in the summer.
Messi has previously been linked with a move to MLS when that deal is over, which would have seen him go to Inter Miami and the incredible scenario of Phil Neville telling the seven time Ballon d’Or winner how to play football could have arisen.
A move back to Barcelona has also been mooted in the past, although it feels like the Spanish giants would have to pull a few more financial levers to be able to afford his wages, or sell half their squad.
But, according to ESPN, the final destination of his playing career could be in the Middle East, with the Saudi Pro League making plans for one their sides to sign him.
The report claims that whenever he does leave Paris, the league want him to come there, and have told clubs they’re willing to help them sign the biggest names from European leagues, especially when it comes to Messi.
Al Nassr recently made Cristiano Ronaldo the highest paid athlete in the world, when he left Manchester United and couldn’t find a European club to sign for.
And fans in Saudi managed to catch a glimpse of what life could be like with both of the world’s best players of a generation, and possibly ever, both playing there.
PSG took in a mid-season friendly against a Saudi Arabia Pro League All Star XI, with Ronaldo scoring twice on his first appearance since signing.
However, things haven’t gone as expected for the 37-year-old in his first two official games, with some really poor performances.
They did win his first game 1-0, but Ronaldo wasn’t part of either goal, and his highlights weren’t great, even if he did try to disguise what happened with a tactical social media post.
On Thursday night, Al Nassr lost the Saudi Super Cup and manager Rudi Garcia even blamed Ronaldo for the loss, Messi be warned…
Source: sportbible
