Initially expected to dazzle audiences in Riyadh, Neymar’s journey hit a major roadblock in October 2023 when he sustained a severe ACL injury during a World Cup qualifying match for Brazil.
The injury required surgery, sidelining him for the rest of the season and causing him to miss Al-Hilal’s title victory.
Now, Neymar is seeing the light at the end of the tunnel as he works diligently towards full fitness. Recently filmed training on grass, he performed agility drills and sprints with noticeable ease.
With guidance from a personal trainer, his sessions indicate significant progress in his rehabilitation process, suggesting he could soon join his teammates in group training.
As Neymar approaches the end of his recovery, expectations are high for his return to the pitch.
Flamengo president Rodolfo Landim revealed that Neymar is expected to be match-ready by mid-September.
Having made just five appearances for Al-Hilal since his move from Paris Saint-Germain, Neymar will miss the start of the 2024-25 Saudi Pro League season.
However, he is anticipated to be agame-changer as Al-Hilal aims to fend off competition from Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr and retain the league championship.
Al-Hilal star Neymarhas stepped forward with an act of generosity amid the widespread flooding in Brazil caused by heavy rainfall.
Reports indicate that nearly 85 people have lost their lives, and close to 150,000 have been displaced from their homes. In response to this crisis, Neymar provided food relief to the flood-affected people of Brazil.
His gesture comes at a time of great distress, with the footballer also sharing a message to encourage more people to donate.
The 32-year-old shared an image of an aircraft that carried food relief to Brazil as he wrote in the caption, “I don’t like and don’t like to post everything I do or help, because who does it .. do it from the heart, not from the commitment.
So, this post is to encourage more people to help. I’d like to thank the pilots of my aircraft and everyone involved. I’m here from afar, praying that everything goes back to normal… My father is taking careof me and giving all the help possible.”
During his team’s 2-1 defeat to Al-Hilal in the Saudi Super Cup semi-final, Al-Nassr forward Cristiano Ronaldo received a red card for elbowing an opponent.
Ronaldo, aged 39, was dismissed on the 86th minute for allegedly swinging his elbow twice into the chest of Ali Al Bulayhi, causing him to fall to the ground.
After the incident, Ronaldo was seen raising his fist towards the referee before leaving the field. This marks Ronaldo’s first red card since joining Al-Nassr in December 2022.
— Kalounji Ntale 👨🏿🦲 🇺🇬 (@KalounjiNtale) April 9, 2024
At the time of the expulsion, Al-Nassr was trailing 2-0, with goals scored by Salem Al-Dawsari and Malcom, while former Liverpool forward Sadio Mane managed to pull one back in stoppage time.
Three-time champions Al-Hilal will face Al-Ittihad in the final on Thursday. Al-Ittihad secured their spot in the final by defeating Al-Wehda 2-1 in the earlier semi-final, with goals from former Real Madrid captain Karim Benzema and Morocco forward Abderrazak Hamdallah.
In a friendly match against Al-Hilal, Inter Miami showcased an improvement in their preseason performance by scoring three goals but suffered a 4-3 defeat.
The Saudi Pro League side, Al-Hilal, took an early lead with goals from Alexandar Mitrovic and Abdullah Al-Hamdan. Luis Suarez pulled one back for Inter Miami, but Michael extended Al-Hilal’s lead.
Inter Miami fought back with a Lionel Messi penalty and a goal from David Ruiz, leveling the scores. However, Al-Hilal secured the victory with a late goal from Malcolm.
Brad Friedel, expressing his views on Lionel Messi’s impact on Major League Soccer (MLS), emphasized that Messi has had an “enormous” influence on the league.
Friedel urged MLS officials to capitalize on the increased interest generated by Messi’s presence and ensure that it leads to sustainable growth for the league.
The former USA No1 told Livescore that “the second Messi signed, his face was everywhere, pink Inter Miami shirts were everywhere and on billboards. The impact has been enormous.
“Over here we’ve been struggling to get that large lucrative television contract so hopefully this can instigate more discussions.”
The Brazilian forward, who recently became his country’s all-time leading goalscorer, is renowned for his distinctive off-field style.
Known for breaking away from the norm, the 31-year-old has previously sported flamboyant hairstyles during his stints with Santos, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal.
Neymar has now opted for a new beginning by revealing on Instagram that he has shaved off all his hair.
Al-Hilal has deregistered Neymar following his unfortunate ACL injury during his 2026 World Cup qualifying duty with Brazil.
Facing several months on the sidelines, there is no immediate place for him in the plans of his Middle Eastern employers, and a lengthy recovery process lies ahead.
Neymar, with just five appearances for Al-Hilal and one goal, is rumoured to be considering a premature end to his spell in Saudi Arabia as he allegedly eyes an emotional return to his roots at Santos.
Due to the impending departure of Aleksandar Mitrovic, Fulham has emerged as the newest team to be connected with Arsenal forward Folarin Balogun.
The Premier League team Fulham is getting ready to trade Mitrovic to the Saudi club Al-Halal this summer despite the fact that he has 111 goals in 206 games for them.
After Fulham attempted to impose a £52 million price tag on him in order to thwart the move, the 28-year-old Serbian international reportedly declared he would never play for them again.
The Saudi Pro League team Al-Hilal, though, is reportedly close to agreeing to a deal to sign Mitrovic, and it is anticipated that they will shell out more than £40 million to do so.
Given that the new season has already begun, Fulham will urgently seek a replacement for Mitrovic, who has been a goal machine for the club.
According to the Daily Mail, Fulham is now mulling a bid for Arsenal striker Balogun, with the Gunners hoping to fetch £50 million for the 22-year-old.
Last season, Balogun made an impression while on loan at the French club Reims, scoring 21 goals in 37 Ligue 1 games.
Numerous teams have expressed interest in him, most notably Inter Milan, who have been connected to Balogun all summer. However, the Italians are hesitant to spend £50 million on him.
Balogun and Monaco had a “initial agreement” to return to the club, but Arsenal rejected their offer to bring Balogun back to Ligue 1.
Balogun is a player that West Ham and even Arsenal’s rivals in north London, Tottenham, are reportedly interested in signing.
In addition to joking that Fulham should be seeking to win the Premier League, Bernd Leno is adamant that they should be looking to finish the job and qualify for Europe this season.
A run of eight losses in their last 13 matches in the top division put an end to the Germany goalkeeper’s hopes of qualifying for Europe last season.
Even though their outstanding first season back in the top flight came to an end in tenth place, Marco Silva’s team was at least spared the scrap for relegation.
After the Londoners’ 1-0 victory at Everton on Saturday, Leno thinks they should once again set lofty goals.
When asked about Fulham’s goals for the upcoming season, he said to Metro: “Same as last season – after 20-25 matches we can change the target and say, “We go for Europe or mid-table or whatever” or for the (league) trophy.” No, I’m kidding.
We “only prepare for [the upcoming game] and not what might occur in May of next year.”
Leno asserts that the fact that Fulham managed to keep Manchester City and Manchester United close both at home and away last season should give supporters hope that they can compete with their more seasoned rivals on an equal level.
I think now everyone is aware of our competitiveness. We are capable of competing against the top clubs, especially at home,’ he continued. You can tell that United and City fought against us by looking at them.
‘At the end we lost these games but you saw they were decided by details – in the last minute against United.
‘We know how we can compete against these teams and they also know what they can expect from us so it will be a challenge.’
The Fulham No.1 admits the fact the transfer window remains open, with the likes of Aleksandar Mitrovic and Joao Palhinha attracting attention, ensures the next few weeks will not be easy.
While manager Silva turned down a £40 million offer from Al-Ahli, the Saudi club Al-Hilal wanted striker Mitrovic. Al-Hilal is expected to make a new offer of £47 million. West Ham and Liverpool have both been connected to Palhinha.
Leno said: “Every season you have the same problem.” There might possibly be incomings before this Saturday’s home derby against Brentford. The previous season, I arrived the day before the opening match against Liverpool. I didn’t participate in any friendly or preseason games because I didn’t train much at Arsenal.
“I had no rhythm, so I had to adjust as quickly as possible, but that’s what we do and why we’re professionals,” the speaker said. I don’t worry about it because the team is really easy to adapt to and the fans help players adapt and gain confidence.
Leno was tight with Aaron Ramsdale, who later took over as the Gunners’ custodian after Leno departed the Emirates in quest of regular first-team action.
Ramsdale recently disclosed that his wife lost her unborn child in January. When asked if he had contacted Ramsdale, Leno replied, “No, not yet. He’s a genuinely nice man, and I believe I truly admire him as a person. Even when we were both goalkeepers for Arsenal, our friendship was great.
“I’m going to talk to him soon, and I think it’s great that he speaks so openly about his personal life. I wish him the best in the future.”
In the wake of Neymar’s departure from the club after a six-season stint in the French capital, his former teammate Marco Verratti penned a touching message.
Verratti conveyed his emotions sincerely as he bid farewell to Neymar, who recently moved to Al-Hilal.
The pair had spent six years together at the club.
“Just to tell you that it was amazing to spend all those years together. I love you very much, and I wish you the best for the new stage of your life. You are a special person, my friend,” the Italian wrote on Instagram.
The 31-year-old joined PSG before the 2017/18 season and spent six seasons at the Parisian club.
He made over 173 appearances but failed to win the Champions League, reaching the final once.
According to reports, Neymar will acquire a private jet along with a mansion equipped with staff.
He stands to earn a substantial winning bonus of €80,000 and an additional €500,000 for each social media post or story that promotes Saudi Arabia.
Although the official announcement of his transfer is pending, Neymar has completed the move to Al Hilal.
His lucrative two-year deal will see him pocket an eye-watering €2.9 million per week.
Breaking down the staggering figures, Neymar’s earnings translate to €4.80 every second, €288 per minute, €17,280 per hour, €414,720 per day, and a jaw-dropping €2.9 million weekly.
His monthly income reaches €12 million, annually totaling €150 million, and over the span of two seasons, he is set to amass a staggering €300 million.
According to respected football transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano, Neymar is expected to arrive in Saudi Arabia this week and will wear the number 10 jersey.
His remarkable professional career encompassed 497 appearances, where he netted 294 goals and contributed 190 assists, securing a remarkable tally of 21 titles.
Reportedly, the Nigerian forward is preparing to finalize a contract extension for three years, securing his presence at Napoli until 2026.
As per Sky Sports correspondent Gianluca Di Marzio, under the terms of the new agreement, Osimhen will receive a slightly above-average €10 million annual net salary.
Earlier, Victor Osimhen declined a staggering €1 million per week offer from Saudi Arabian team Al Hilal.
Had he accepted the proposition, he could have garnered a yearly sum of €52 million from the Saudi Pro League outfit.
Hilal’s pursuit of Osimhen followed their unsuccessful attempt to secure the signing of Kylian Mbappe from Paris Saint Germain.
In the previous Serie A season,Victor Osimhen had a remarkable performance, emerging as the top scorer with 26 goals in 32 matches.
Neymar’s impending move to Saudi Arabia is nearing completion following Paris Saint-Germain’s agreement with Al-Hilal and the finalisation of personal terms.
L’Equipe reports that PSG and the Saudi Pro League team have come to terms on Neymar’s transfer.
The 31-year-old Brazilian has already committed to a two-year contract that will see him earn a total of €160 million (£138 million or $175 million).
Neymar’s six-year tenure in Paris seems to be concluding quietly. His absence from play since March and his pursuit of reconstructive ankle ligament surgery highlight the injury challenges that have persisted since his record-breaking transfer from Barcelona in 2017.
Despite netting 118 goals for PSG, Neymar’s relationship with the club’s fans has been turbulent in recent times.
This tension reached a peak when the ultras staged a protest outside his residence earlier this year. This summer, both Neymar and Marco Verratti were advised to seek new clubs.
Neymar will join a cadre of global superstars who have migrated to Saudi Arabia this season.
At Al-Hilal, he will collaborate with the likes ofKalidou Koulibaly, Ruben Neves, and former Barcelona player Malcom.
Neymar is on the verge of moving to Saudi Arabia after Paris Saint-Germain agreed a deal with Al-Hilal, with personal terms already settled.
According to L’Equipe, PSG and the Saudi Pro League side have reached an agreement for the transfer of Neymar.
The 31-year-old Brazilian has already agreed to a two-year-contract that will see him pocket €160 million (£138 million or $175 million) in total.
Neymar’s six-year spell in the French capital looks to be ending with a whimper. He has been out of action since March, and has undergone reconstructive ankle ligament surgery in an attempt to solve the injury issues that have plagued him since his world-record move from Barcelona in 2017.
Despite scoring 118 goals for PSG, Neymar has had an up-and-down relationship with the club’s fans in recent years, which came to a head when their ultras protested outside his home earlier this year. This summer, he was told, along with Marco Verratti, to find a new club. Neymar will join a host of global superstars who have flocked to Saudi Arabia this summer.
At Al-Hilal, he’ll link up with Kalidou Koulibaly, Ruben Neves, and former Barcelona man Malcom.
The ongoing transfer window has been marked by speculation about Mbappe’s future, but it seems that the 24-year-old forward will ultimately remain with PSG.
A contract offer has been presented, indicating that he will stay for now but is set to depart in 2024 for a fee.
Back in June, Mbappe informed PSG of his decision not to extend his existing contract, which is due to expire next summer.
In order to avoid losing him without compensation, PSG accepted a substantial offer of around £259 million ($328.4 million) fromSaudi club Al-Hilal.
However, when Mbappe turned down the move, PSG left him out of their pre-season preparations.
Following productive discussions with PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, Mbappe appears to be on the verge of agreeing to a one-year extension until 2025.
This agreement includes a provision that guarantees his availability for transfer in 2024.
This arrangement benefits both parties – PSG will secure a transfer fee, while Mbappe will have the opportunity to pursue his desire to move on.
There is strong speculation that Mbappe aims to join Real Madrid next summer, especially considering that the Spanish club has yet to find a replacement for Karim Benzema.
Consequently, it’s likely that they will make a move for Mbappe in the upcoming year. Nevertheless, it seems that the prospect of a free transfer is no longer on the table.
Reports suggest that Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) has accepted a substantial offer forNeymar from Al-Hilal, a team in the Saudi Pro League.
The Brazilian player has apparently expressed his desire to leave PSG this summer, although the French club might hold out for a minimum of €150 million (£130 million or $165 million).
According to Fabrizio Romano, renowned for transfer news, Al-Hilal made a sizable offer for the 31-year-old on Saturday, which has now been acknowledged by RMC Sport.
Despite ongoing advanced negotiations between Neymar’s representatives and the club, Neymar himself has not yet given his approval for the deal.
If Neymar departs PSG during this summer window, it would mark the conclusion of his six-year stint in Paris, where he has recorded 118 goals in 173 appearances.
This development coincides with a somewhat unsettled period for the Ligue 1 champions, as evidenced by Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, and Marco Verratti being excluded from the squad in the 0-0 draw against Lorient.
Interestingly, Al-Hilal had previously presented a €300 million (£259 million or $332 million) bid for Mbappe last month, which was declined as Mbappe displayed no interest in moving there.
PSG’s focus is on selling Mbappe this summer after he declined a contract extension.
Avoiding a free transfer next year is PSG’s goal, but if both Neymar and Mbappe depart, the team’s performance in Ligue 1 and the Champions League could potentially suffer.
Negotiations are ongoing, and it appears increasingly likely that Neymar will not participate in anymore matches for PSG.
Cristiano Ronaldo steered a 10-man Al-Nassr team to their inaugural Arab Club Champions Cup victory, netting twice in a 2-1 overtime triumph against fellow Saudi contenders Al-Hilal on Saturday.
Following his transfer to Al-Nassr, Ronaldo experienced a trophy-less season, with the team securing second place in the Saudi Pro League.
However, the 38-year-old impressively netted six goals in the tournament, clinching the tournament’s top scorer distinction on the path to securing the championship.
This competition involves elite Arab clubs from various regions, encompassing teams from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria.
The star-studded Al-Nassr lineup generated numerous scoring opportunities in the first half, as summer signings Sadio Mane, Seko Fofana, and Marcelo Brozovic were all thwarted by goalkeeper Mohammed Alowais.
The match at the King Fahd Sports City stadium stayed goalless until six minutes into the second half, when Al-Hilal’s Malcom delivered a cross that was met by his Brazilian counterpart Michael, who headed the ball in to give his team the lead.
Adding to the sting, the 27-year-old even mimicked Ronaldo’s iconic goal celebration, sprinting to the corner flag and launching into the air.
This turn of events seemed to ignite Ronaldo, and the Portuguese captain levelled the score in the 74th minute by capitalising on a low cross from right-back Sultan Al-Ghannam, thereby extending his scoring streak to five consecutive games.
Al-Nassr defender Abdulelah Al-Amri was sent off in the second half before Nawaf Boushal was given his marching orders while on the bench for arguing with an official, but they held on to take the game to extra time.
Ronaldo then doubled the lead in the first half of extra time when he pounced on a rebound off the crossbar and headed home with the goalkeeper off his line.
There were concerns, however, when Ronaldo was carted off the field with an apparent injury after a collision in the second period of extra time — just two days before their Saudi Pro League opener against Al-Ettifaq.
Napoli’s striker, Victor Osimhen, has made a bold decision by rejecting a staggering €1 million per week offer from Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal.
The Nigerian forward had the chance to earn a jaw-dropping €52 million annually if he had accepted the move to the Saudi Pro League team.
Al Hilal’s relentless pursuit of Osimhen is evident as they recently had their second bid of €140 million for the player rejected.
Initially, they offered €130 million, which Napoli also turned down, according to reports from the Italian newspaper Il Mattino.
However, Napoli seems determined to capitalize on Osimhen’s market value and is holding out for a staggering €150 million.
The interest in Osimhen comes after Al Hilal’s unsuccessful attempt to secure the services of Paris Saint-Germain’s superstar, Kylian Mbappe.
Osimhen’s remarkable performance during the last Serie A season, where he finished as the top scorer with 26 goals in 32 games, has earned him attention from several European giants, including Bayern Munich.
It remains to be seen how this transfer saga will unfold as the parties involved continue negotiations.
Al Hilal, a Saudi Arabian club, has reportedly made an astonishing offer of €700 million per year in salary to lure Kylian Mbappe from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) to the Saudi Pro League.
Personal talks between Hilal and Mbappe have commenced, with the club proposing a one-year contract and an option to extend for another year.
If the deal goes through, Mbappe could potentially become the world’s highest-paid athlete.
The offer translates to an incredible income for Mbappe, earning him €22 per second, €1,332 per minute, €79,900 per hour, €1.9 million per day, €13.3 million per week, and €58.33 million per month.
Al Hilal has already made a record-breaking bid of €300 million to secure the services of the French superstar, and football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reports that they have formally submitted the offer and are looking to initiate talks with PSG.
Paris Saint-Germain seems open to cashing in on Mbappe, especially after leaving him out of their pre-season squad due to challenges in extending his contract.
There have been reports in the French media suggesting that PSG suspects the 24-year-old has already agreed to join Real Madrid on a free transfer.
Mbappe signed a three-year deal with PSG during the 2022 summer transfer window. The Frenchman signed a contract of two years with an option to renew for another year, SkySports claims.
He has now played the first year out of the two years and would be available to begin talks with clubs in January 2024, if he does not trigger the extension clause.
The Senegalese defender is part of a group of Chelsea players who have been transferred to Middle Eastern clubs this summer.
According to The Sun, Koulibaly finalized his £17 million move to Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal, where he will be joining former Wolverhampton Wanderers player Ruben Neves.
This exit from the west London club comes just a year after Koulibaly joined Chelsea from Napoli for a fee of £30 million.
Koulibaly, who was once rated among the top defenders in Europe, failed to adapt at Stamford Bridge, as he managed just 23 Premier League appearances while being sent off only in his third match.
The 32-year-old has now fired a parting shot at Chelsea following his exit from the club.
Speaking to Corriere dello Sport, the Senegalese criticised Chelsea’s management and leadership, pointing out that he expected to be given more importance in the team.
“I had no guarantees to get regular playing time [at Chelsea].
I was always professional but I don’t like to sit on the bench doing nothing,” he explained.
“I prefer a place where I am wanted and at the centre of the project and can be an example for young players.
The Premier League is fantastic and there are great players.
I needed time and in one year I couldn’t prove what I wanted because of the coach’s and club’s choices,” he added.
Earlier, Sports Brief reported Mateo Kovacic has opened up on his decision to dump Chelsea to seal a sensational summer transfer move to Manchester City.
The Croatian midfielder became City’s first signing of the summer after the Premier League champions agreed to pay Chelsea £25m plus £5m in add-ons for his signature.
After spending the 2022-23 season on loan at Inter, the Chelsea striker traveled to Saudi Arabia on Monday to meet with officials from Al-Hilal, as reported by GOAL.
Al-Hilal has put forward a two-season contract proposal to Lukaku, amounting to a total of €50 million.
Lukaku is set to return to Chelsea following the expiration of his loan deal with Inter. Reports suggest that Inter may not have the financial means to secure his permanent signing, and the newly-appointed Chelsea manager, Mauricio Pochettino, is apparently open to giving Lukaku another opportunity at Stamford Bridge.
However, GOAL confirmed that Lukaku is very much open to a switch to Al-Hilal. The 30-year-old will first try to squeeze an even larger salary out of the club, though, as he wants to be rewarded handsomely if he is to turn his back on European football.
Al-Hilal will have to enter into direct negotiations with Chelsea if they strike an agreement with Lukaku.
The Blues are open to a sale as they seek to trim their squad ahead of the new season, but will ask for a fee in excess of €50 million.
The Chelsea forward has expressed his desire to remain at Inter, who reached the 2022-23 Champions League final only to lose 1-0 against Manchester City, but it appears unlikely that the Italian giants will be able to keep him for another year.
The lure of riches in Saudi Arabia could prove too strong for Lukaku to ignore, with Ronaldo paving the way for more high-profile stars to play in the Middle East after his record-breaking switch to Al-Nassr in December.
Ronaldo’s former team-mate Karim Benzema has since left Real Madrid to join Al-Ittihad, with Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante also now set to complete a move to the Saudi Pro League champions.
Prior to their final game of the 2022–23 season, the Parisians officially declared that the Argentine would be leaving the club after two seasons in Paris.
With a 3-2 loss to Clermont being his final game at Parc des Princes, Messi was jeered by some sections of the home crowd both before and after the game.
Although it was anticipated that the Argentine would wait until mid-June to announce his next move, it may happen sooner.
Saudi Arabian club announces date for official announcement regarding Lionel Messi
Barcelona’s hopes of bringing him back the Camp Nou appear to be fading despite their previous confidence of securing a comeback deal.
Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal have made a two year contract offer to Messi’s representatives and the agreement could be completed within days.
As per reports from Diario AS, Al Hilal are prepared to announce Messi as their player on June 6, prior to the 35-year-old departing on a family holiday later this month.
The potential arrival of Lionel Messi at Al-Hilal, a team in the Saudi Pro League, has created apprehension among some of the current players, who are concerned about losing their positions in the team.
The widely acclaimed seven-time Ballon d’Or winner has been strongly linked with a move to Saudi Arabia after declining an opportunity to extend his contract with Paris Saint-Germain.
As per Sportskeeda, Ali Al-Bulayhi, a prominent player at Al-Hilal who had a previous altercation with Messi during the World Cup, is worried that Messi might include him among the players he prefers not to work with, should Messi join the club.
“I do not know what will happen, and I am afraid that he says, ‘I do not want number five.’ I do not know if Messi will come or not, but if he comes, may God protect me! If he comes, God willing, I will not attend the first two days until I monitor the situation from afar so that he may forget me.”
Messi has been offered a whopping €500 million annual deal to join this summer, although Barcelona are also bidding to convince the Argentine to return to Camp Nou.
Xavi unsure of Messi’s return
Meanwhile, Xavi is unsure whether Lionel Messi will return to Barcelona this summer but has admitted the decision lies firmly with the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, 90MIN reports.
The newly crowned La Liga champions are hugely confident of returning the World Cup winner to Camp Nou, even in the face of interest from Al Hilal, who offered Messi a whopping €500 million annual deal.
arcelona recently had their viability plan to sign Messi this summer approved by La Liga as the Catalan club intends to proceed with its quest to bring Messi back to the club.
Lewandowski makes strong Messi confession
Earlier, Sports Brief reported Robert Lewandowski has recently made a resounding statement expressing his fervent wish for Lionel Messi to make a fairytale return to Barcelona.
Messi departed Barca in 2021 due to the club’s ailing financial situation, joining Paris Saint-Germain on a two-year contract in the process.
But with his current PSG deal expiring in the summer, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner has been urged to make a return to his ‘spiritual home.’
His father and agent, Jorge Messi, wanted to dispel recent rumors about his son’s future.
According to a report by the Daily Mail, it was claimed that Messi had already agreed to a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia.
The report suggested that the World Cup winner would sign a contract worth £522 million with Al-Hilal and reignite his rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo.
Messi’s father has since shot down the rumours, saying that the media sources knowingly publishing fake news lack respect, Football Espana reported. Jorge released a statement on social media, explaining that his son has not agreed on a deal with any club.
“There is absolutely nothing with any club for next year. The decision will not be made before Lionel finishes the season with PSG. Once the season is over, it will be time to analyse and see what is there, and then make a decision,” part of the statement read.
The statement criticised the publications that use Messi’s name to gain publicity.
“It seems to me a lack of respect towards the media that do their due diligence, that there are those who consciously and deliberately deceive, without providing any proof of their claims,” Jorge said in the statement.
Messi’s wife hesitant about move
Lionel Messi’s potential move to Saudi Arabia has received a subtle blow, with his wife, Antonella Roccuzzo, reportedly hesitant about the deal.
Messi has received a mega offer from Al-Hilal in a deal believed to be valued at least 400 million euros per year to ditch European football for the Middle East.
It is becoming increasingly apparent that the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner will leave Paris Saint-Germain at the end of this season, Sports Brief reported.
Reports indicate that, Al-Hilal is allegedly set to make Lionel Messi an offer to join them for over half a billion pounds. A staggering amount to knock out of the waterRonaldo’s Al-Nassr’s deal.
Sky Sports reports that the Saudi company is allegedly willing to pay the PSG star £400 million for just one season.
According to the source, Argentina is in favour of Messi joining the team since it would increase the league’s marketability.
Messi and Ronaldo
The Saudi Pro League has already gained more interest since the new year after the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo on a free transfer.
Ronaldo signed a record deal to join Al Nassr following his exit from Manchester United.
However, Messi’s potential deal will blow that out of the water.
He has also been welcomed to the country by Ahmed Al-Khateeb, the tourism minister of Saudi Arabia.
After Messi’s trip, he tweeted: “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.”
The Argentine is on course to leave PSG this summer once his contract at the Parc des Princes expires.
The club had previously been keen on extending his deal, but have changed their stance.
Messi is suspended from the club following an unapproved trip to Saudi Arabia after a Ligue 1 loss to Lorient on Sunday.
However, fans reacted to the ban as they arrived in their droves outside of the club’s head office.
The protest saw fans ignite flares while holding up banners calling on the club’s management to resign.
Messi has also been linked with a return to Barcelona as well as to MLS side Inter Miami.
The French giants are currently five points clear at the top of Ligue 1 with five games remaining.
But Barcelona’s dream of having their all time goal scoring machine back seems gloomy as it is reported that they have failed to convince La Liga over their ability to meet the forwards financial demands.
Lionel Messi is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for Paris Saint-Germain and the Argentina national team.
Messi is widely considered as one of the greatest footballers of all time, having won numerous awards including seven Ballon d’Or titles.
He started his career in his native Argentina with Newell’s Old Boys before moving to Barcelona at the age of 13.
At Barcelona, he became one of the most successful players in the club’s history, winning numerous domestic and international titles.
Messi has also had a successful international career, leading Argentina to the Copa America title in 2021 and helping the team reach the final of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
He also kept his Argentine national team at the top till they won the 2022 FIFA World Cup which was hosted in Qatar.
After the teams win, Messi gifted 14 iPhones to his team mates and all the staff of team to congratulate and applaud them for their hard work for the teams success at the World Cup.
Also, Lionel Messi is married to Antonella Roccuzzo, his childhood sweetheart. The couple first met when Messi was just five years old and Roccuzzo was his friend’s cousin. They started dating in 2008 and got married in June 2017 in their hometown of Rosario, Argentina.
The ceremony was attended by several famous footballers, including Messi’s Barcelona teammates and Argentina’s national team.
Messi and Roccuzzo have three children together: Thiago, Mateo, and Ciro. The family is known for being relatively private and keeping their personal lives out of the public eye.
Cristiano Ronaldo won’t be penalised for the vulgar, crotch-grabbing action he made during his final match for Al-Nassr, which caused so much uproar.
Against Al-Hilal on Tuesday, the Portuguese superstar had a disastrous performance that brought further scrutiny to his antics.
After delivering a tackle akin to those seen in Wrestling on a rival, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner was fortunate to only receive a yellow card. Following this, Messi insults from the crowd continued.
Ronaldo appeared to react to those by grabbing his crotch in the direction of his tormentors, leading to widespread condemnation throughout the Middle East and calls for him to be expelled from the Saudi Pro League.
The Disciplinary and Ethics Committee of the Saudi Football Association has looked into the incident and delivered its verdict, with it determined that no further action is required.
The only penalty handed out by the committee is a 15,000 riyals fine, which his non-appealable, to Al-Nassr due to the late arrival of their players on the pitch for the start of the second-half.
Ronaldo escaped punishment as only official match football was reviewed – rather than the videos which have been posted on social media.
Al-Nassr were always confidentthat their iconic forward, who is the highest-paid player on the planet, would avoid any action as they claim that the 38-year-old was merely reacting to an injury he suffered in the groin region. They said: “Ronaldo suffers from an injury.
His challenge with Gustavo Cuellar, the Al-Hilal player, started with a blow in a very sensitive area.
This is confirmed information. As for the fans’ explanations, they are free to think whatever they want.”
Argentine superstar and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) playerLionel Messi reportedly received a staggering offer worth €400 million from a Saudi Arabian club, Al-Hilal.
The news comes amid persistent rumours that World Cup winner Messi will leave PSG this summer rather than agree to a new contract.
If the legendary player accepts what is being termed as “mother of all deals” it would give a new boost to Saudi Arabia with having two soccer greats playing in their professional league tournaments as Cristiano Ronaldo is part of the Al Nassr club after completing $75 million per-year move last year.
The bumper offer from the Riyadh club includes all the advantages set for the player, and meets the demands of the best FIFA men’s player of the year 2022 and captain of Argentina, the 2022 Qatar World Cup Champions, Okaz/Saudi Gazette cited sources as having said.
Meanwhile, Jorge Horacio Messi, father and business agent of Messi, has been spotted in Riyadh in recent days, sparking speculation that he could be negotiating a deal for his son.
In his capacity as tourism ambassador of Saudi Arabia, Messi traveled to the Kingdom on several occasions for promotional activities.
If Messi departs, PSG would likely be doubly determined to keep hold of Kylian Mbappe for at least one more season, a year after persuading the France striker to sign a new deal and turn down overtures from Real Madrid.
As well as the uncertainty over Messi’s future, there are doubts about coach Christophe Galtier, who was only appointed last July but has come under intense pressure following recent results.
