Exploring Messi’s Next Move: Weighing His Options Between Money, Ronaldo, Nostalgia, and Family
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Argentine star Lionel Messi is looking for a new and perhaps final challenge after two disappointing seasons with Paris Saint-Germain, the French football champions, which he ended on Saturday to the whistles of the Parisian crowd.
Al-Bargut, which turns 36 on the 24th of this month, has three destinations: the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Barcelona, Spain and Inter Miami, USA.
– Saudi Arabia, money and Ronaldo?
The presence of Messi and the Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo at the same tournament again has something to tempt … at least the Saudis. The oil-rich kingdom dreams of the duo as a mirror to promote a potential bid to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
A crazy challenge, but commensurate with the financial power of the Gulf state, which propelled Ronaldo into the ranks of the winners, with a sham deal valued at more than 440 million euros until June 2025.
Messi, who has a contract with the Saudi Arabian Tourism Authority, could follow in the same footsteps, according to many media outlets who touched on a massive offer from the Al-Hilal club worth 400 million euros a year.
According to the Spanish newspaper Sport, the announcement of Messi’s contract is likely to be made on Tuesday.
– Barcelona, value and nostalgia?
A return to Barcelona will have a very different flavor for the flea, who will find his former colleague Javi Hernandez, the current manager of the Catalan club.
It would be a great story for Messi, but for Barcelona, the process is difficult due to budgetary pressures.
The Catalan club is still awaiting approval from the Spanish League of an “economic plan” it has unveiled to lift restrictions related to the Financial Fair Play Law, which includes contract extensions for many key players in addition to the possibility of Messi’s return.
To stay within the salary cap, Barcelona will have to cut their spending by another 200 million euros. Messi is close to my heart, but very far from the club.
– Miami, family and habitat?
This hypothesis appears much less often, but it is present: in Inter Miami, in Florida, in the NBA, which has always brought South American stars at the end of its professional career, such as the Brazilian Pele, his compatriot Kaka, the Argentine Gonzalo Higuain or the current other Brazilian Douglas Costa.
The advantage of this option is that it brings the Argentine family closer to Miami. In this ideal living environment, the Argentine star will find another football star, Manchester United, Real Madrid and former English Paris Saint-Germain international David Beckham, co-owner of Inter Miami in Florida.
Although the NBA is less well-known than the major European leagues, it is also a high-level tournament and could be the perfect fit for Messi. The next few days will show.
Source: AFP.
