SAUDI PRO LEAGUE
Suspended Messi set to get mega-offer from Saudi Arabian
Reports in France that Paris St Germain have decided not to renew Lionel Messi’s contract have fuelled speculation that Argentina’s World Cup-winning captain is closing in on a lucrative transfer to a Saudi Arabian club next season.
French sports daily L’Equipe reported on Tuesday that Qatari-owned PSG had suspended Messi for two weeks and decided against exercising an option to renew his contract for a third season after he made an unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia.
Messi is a Saudi ambassador for tourism and his longtime rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, signed for Saudi club Al-Nassr in December in a deal reported to be worth around $220 million per year.
Ronaldo’s move to Saudi Arabia nearly doubled the Portuguese former Real Madrid great’s annual playing salary, making him the world’s highest-paid athlete, Forbes reported earlier this week.
Any deal for Messi, whose most likely destination is Al Nassr’s rivals Al-Hilal, is almost certain to exceed the amount paid for Ronaldo.
Al-Hilal fans chanted Messi’s name and waved his shirts after the win against Al-Nassr last month.
British newspaper the Daily Telegraph reported on Wednesday that representatives of the former Barcelona great were in talks with Al-Hilal over an annual contract worth around 400 million euros ($442.04 million).
Al-Hilal did not immediately reply to a request for comment outside of normal business hours.
PSG, who are owned by Qatar Sports Investments, declined to comment on the reports.
Messi’s trip to Saudi Arabia resulted in him being suspended without pay and banned from training with his team mates by PSG, L’Equipe said.
Saudi Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al Khateeb confirmed Messi’s trip to the Kingdom.
“I am happy to welcome Saudi Tourism Ambassador Lionel Messi and his family on his second vacation in Saudi,” Al Khateeb wrote on his Twitter account.
“Welcome Messi to Diriyah, the land of traditions, heritage and history.
“Leo Messi, his wife Antonella and his sons Mateo and Ciro had an enjoyable tour where they learned about the history of Saudi and met its generous and hospitable people in At-Turaif.”
-Reuters
Al-Nassr appointed Portuguese Jorge Jesus as coach on Monday, two months after he left their bitter Saudi Pro-League rivals Al-Hilal.
The 70-year-old won the domestic treble in his second stint with Riyadh-based Al-Hilal in the 2023-2024 season, but left the club in May after they lost in the AFC Champions League elite semi-finals to Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli.
“It’s official Mr. Jorge Jesus is the new coach of Al-Nassr” the Saudi club posted on X. The former Copa Libertadores winner with Brazil’s Flamengo, who replaces Italian Stefano Pioli, has signed a one-year contract with Al-Nassr.
Nine-times Saudi champions Al-Nassr have extended the contract of 40-year-old five-times Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo until 2027.
-Reuters
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Cristiano Ronaldo has signed a two-year contract extension with Al Nassr, the Saudi Pro League side said on Thursday, which will keep the Portugal forward at the club past his 42nd birthday.
Ronaldo, who joined Al Nassr in 2022 after leaving Manchester United to become a free agent, has scored 93 goals in 105 appearances for them in all competitions.
“”A new chapter begins. Same passion, same dream. Let’s make history together,” Ronaldo said in a post on X.
Ronaldo arrived in Al Nassr on a two-and-a-half-year contract soon after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
That made him the highest-paid athlete in the world and he has topped the list for the last three years, according to Forbes.
At the age of 40, Ronaldo’s estimated total earnings are around $275 million.
He has shown few signs of slowing down, with the forward leading Portugal to a second UEFA Nations League title this month when they beat neighbours Spain in the final.
Ronaldo is also eyeing the 1,000-goal milestone in his career. He has scored 794 goals in club football and 138 for Portugal to take his tally to 932.
His arrival in Saudi Arabia opened the floodgates for several high-profile players based in Europe to make the switch to the SPL, such as Ronaldo’s former Real Madrid teammate Karim Benzema.
Although Ronaldo has won the Arab Club Champions Cup with Al Nassr, he has been unable to guide them to the SPL title, with their best finish being runners-up in 2022-23 and 2023-24. They finished third last season.
-Reuters
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Cristiano Ronaldo indicated on May 26 that he could leave Al-Nassr, after declaring that a “chapter is over” hours after the conclusion of the Saudi Pro League season.
The 40-year-old Portuguese striker joined Al-Nassr in 2022 from Manchester United and his contract with the Saudi club ends this summer.
A special transfer window runs from June 1 to 10 to allow the 32 clubs involved in the Club World Cup to sign players. Al-Nassr are not at the Club World Cup unlike fellow Saudi side Al-Hilal.
Fifa president Gianni Infantino last week said “there are discussions” over the former United, Real Madrid, Juventus and Sporting Lisbon star playing at the expanded tournament in the United States starting on June 14.
This could mean that he could sign for a new club before then.
“This chapter is over. The story? Still being written. Grateful to all,” Ronaldo cryptically said on social media with a photo of him in an Al-Nassr shirt.
According to Arab news outlet Al-Yaum, Al-Nassr had reportedly offered him a new contract that would slash salary by more than half – Ronaldo currently holds the world’s highest football salary at around €200 million (S$292 million) annually.
Al-Yaum reported that Al-Nassr’s new proposal includes a 52 per cent pay cut, reducing his annual earnings to €96 million. In exchange, the club offered Ronaldo a 5 per cent ownership stake in the team, along with additional investment benefits in Saudi Arabia.
The team lost in the semi-finals of the Asian Champions League in April to Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale and finished third in the Saudi Pro League.
Ronaldo is the league’s top scorer with 25 goals.
In 2024, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner said he could end his career with Al-Nassr.
Meanwhile, his great rival Lionel Messi will play at the Club World Cup with Inter Miami.
During a recent interview with YouTuber and streamer IShowSpeed, Infantino said: “And Ronaldo might play for one of the teams as well at the Club World Cup.
“There are discussions with some clubs, so if any club is watching and is interested in hiring Ronaldo for the Club World Cup… who knows, who knows.”
It remains to be seen where Ronaldo’s future lies.
Just last week, a source close to Moroccan club Wydad Casablanca said they are not in talks to sign him. Spanish outlet Marca reported that Wydad were hoping to sign the forward to lead their attack at the Club World Cup.
“It was just a friendly talk between Wydad’s president and an agent close to Ronaldo, without going beyond informal discussions,” the source told Reuters.
-Reuters/AFP
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