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
Former Super Eagles’ coach, Jose Peseiro is on the line to coach Saudi Arabia Pro League first tier team, Al Riyadh.
Information from the oil rich country indicate that Peseiro who had previously coached the Saudi Arabia national team is one of the two being considered to replace Odair Hellmann at the Saudi club which placed 14th at the end of last season.
It is gathered that Peseiro has a competitor in Spanish cooach, Javier Pereira who is also lineup for the job.
Peseiro had previously managed Al Hilal in 2006 and later coached the Saudi national team during their 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign.
Al Nasr’s Cristiano Ronaldo capped his first full Saudi Pro League season in style as he broke the record for the most goals scored in one campaign on Monday.
The Portuguese 39-year-old scored a brace in his side’s 4-2 win over Al Ittihad on the final matchday to bring his league tally this season to 35 goals.
The previous record was held by former Al Nasr forward and Moroccan international Abderrazak Hamdallah, who scored 34 goals in 2018-19.
Ronaldo, who played for Sporting, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus, joined Al Nasr in January 2023.
-Reuters
Undefeated Al-Hilal won a record-extending 19th Saudi Pro League title on Saturday with a 4-1 victory over Al-Hazem to reclaim the trophy from Al-Ittihad who won it last season.
Jorge Jesus’ side hold a 12-point advantage over Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr in second with three matches remaining.
Aleksandar Mitrovic gave Al-Hilal the lead from the penalty spot after 15 minutes but Faiz Selemani netted the equaliser for Al-Hazem in the 34th minute.
However, Jesus’s side took the lead again with an own goal from Ahmed Al-Juwaid in the 39th minute.
Mitrovic scored again in first-half stoppage time and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic scored three minutes later to make it 4-1.
Al-Hilal are chasing the treble having clinched the Saudi Super Cup title in April, and having reached the Saudi King’s Cup final where they will play Al-Nassr.
-Reuters
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