Lionel Messi’s father denies reports of Saudi Arabia agreement
The father of Paris Saint-Germain attacker Lionel Messi has denied “malicious” reports claiming that his son has agreed a deal to move to Saudi Arabian giants Al-Hilal.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner is expected to end his time at the Parc des Princes this summer amid a recent storm surrounding an unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia.
Messi travelled to the Middle East a day after PSG’s 3-1 home defeat to Lorient two weekends ago, claiming that he thought there would be no training on a Monday as per usual.
However, Christophe Galtier cancelled PSG’s day off in the wake of their defeat, and Messi was given an initial two-week suspension for travelling to fulfil his commercial commitments without the club’s permission.
The 35-year-old issued a public apology and subsequently made an unexpected return to individual training on Monday after missing the weekend’s 3-1 win over Troyes, but there is not thought to be any chance of Messi signing a new deal at the Parc des Princes.
“It seems to me a lack of respect towards the media where they respond, that there are those who consciously and deliberately deceive, without providing any proof of their claims, and wanting to turn any malicious rumour into news or that is directed by someone in favour of their interests. They would have to explain why they don’t contrast the information… They don’t want the truth to ruin ‘their news’.”
After clinching World Cup glory with Argentina, Messi was believed to have reached a verbal agreement to stay on at PSG for another season, but the French champions have since decided against renewing the attacker’s deal.
As well as Al-Hilal, MLS powerhouses Inter Miami are still holding out hope of bringing Messi to the USA, and he continues to be linked with a sensational return to Barcelona.
However, with the Catalan giants needing to trim their wage bill by as much as €200m (£173.9m) before the start of next season, a Camp Nou homecoming is not considered realistic at this stage.
Messi has thrived under Galtier at PSG this term with 20 goals and 19 assists from 37 games in all tournaments, but it is unclear if he will be back in the squad for Sunday’s home fixture with relegation-threatened Ajaccio.
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