Lionel Messi is set to join Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal this summer after agreeing to a £260 million-a-year contract.
The 35-year-old Argentine World Cup winner will leave Paris Saint-Germain at the conclusion of the season and, according to Spanish publications, will bypass Barcelona in favor of a move to the Middle East.
According to El Chiringuito TV, Messi will accept the four-time Asian Champions League champions’ proposal and follow his former adversary Cristiano Ronaldo to Saudi Arabia.
According to the source, he will be joined there by former Barcelona teammate Sergio Busquets, who will accept a two-year agreement, and possibly Jordi Alba.
Last week, it was revealed that Messi will leave Paris at the conclusion of the season, with Barcelona and MLS team Inter Miami also interested.
According to rumours, Messi will take the rich offer from Saudi Arabia’s most successful squad.
Messi is already a tourist ambassador for the country, earning £25 million per year, and his departure from the Parc des Princes was triggered by an unapproved travel to Riyadh last week.
Messi apologized for missing the training session in a social media message to the club and his teammates on Friday.
‘I thought we were going to have a day free after the game like usual,’ Messi said in the 39-second video posted to his Instagram account.
‘I had planned this vacation and couldn’t cancel it. I had previously cancelled it. I apologize to my teammates and am awaiting word from the club on what they want to do with me.’
The apology was accepted, and Messi returned to workout with PSG on Monday after missing Sunday’s 3-1 win against Troyes.
