Lionel Messi Linked to Barcelona Return Amid Saudi Rumors

By BERT HOOVER May 10 2023, 21:19 PM EDT

Pep Guardiola, the highly decorated manager of Manchester City, weighed in on the uncertain future of soccer legend Lionel Messi in an exclusive interview with ESPN, per Forbes report.

Pep Guardiola, who worked closely with Messi at Camp Nou, revealed that the Argentine superstar "will do the impossible to return to FC Barcelona."

Speculation has been rife that Messi will reunite with his former club after his contract with Paris Saint-Germain expires on June 30.

Sources from Spain's El Chiringuito and France's AFP report that the 35-year-old has already accepted a lucrative offer from Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal, which would likely see him top Forbes' list of the World's Highest-Paid Athletes.

Pep Guardiola's insights into Messi's mindset and motivations are particularly insightful, given his close relationship with the player.

During their time together at Camp Nou in the late 2000s and early 2010s, the pair helped Barcelona establish themselves as the best club team in the world, winning multiple Champions League titles and a host of other prestigious trophies.

Lionel Messi's Saudi Arabia Contract

Lionel Messi, the 35-year-old football veteran widely considered the best player in the world, is reportedly set to sign a staggering £522 million contract with Saudi Arabia team Al-Hilal, despite concerns expressed by his wife Antonela Roccuzzo, according to the Daily Mail.

The move would reignite his rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo, who plays for Al-Nassr, a competing team in the volatile Gulf state.

Messi's transfer to Saudi Arabia has been confirmed as a "massive" deal, according to a Saudi source familiar with the negotiations.

The source, who chose to remain anonymous, revealed that the transaction has been finalized and is now a "done deal."

However, Lionel's father, Jorge Messi, denied the rumors, stating that his son has not decided on his future club for the upcoming season.

"There is absolutely nothing with any club for next year. The decision will never be made before Lionel finished the league with PSG," Jorge posted on social media.

Al-Hilal Transfer Ban Expires in Summer

Al-Hilal, a Saudi Arabia football club banned from signing new players due to a transfer violation, is set to make a splash in summer, Fan Nation noted.

The ban stemmed from the club's decision to renew the contract of Mohamed Kanno last year, despite an existing agreement that called for him to join rival club Al Nassr.

Had the ban not been in place, it is rumored that Al-Hilal would have been able to lure Cristiano Ronaldo away from Al Nassr earlier this year.

Despite Ronaldo's impressive 12-goal performance in 13 league games, Al Nassr is currently trailing five points behind league leaders Al-Ittihad with just four games left to play.

Meanwhile, Al-Hilal languishes in fourth place, looking to make a strong finish in the season's final stretch.

In a recent development, Argentine football star Lionel Messi traveled to Saudi Arabia as part of his ambassadorship with the Saudi Arabian tourist board, earning a reported $30 million annually.

However, his absence from pre-trip training without permission led to a two-week suspension without pay from his current club, Paris Saint-Germain.

After issuing a public apology, Messi was reinstated to training on Monday and will be available to play in PSG's remaining four games this season, starting with a match against Ajaccio on Saturday.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Lionel Messi going to Saudi Arabia would be a pre-retirement - Frank Leboeuf - From ESPN FC