Another chapter in the rivalry with Ronaldo? Messi has reportedly given the nod to go to Arabia, the club is supposed to bring him his Barcelona mates too!

Lionel Messi is reportedly close to agreeing a transfer to Saudi Arabia. The Al-Hilal club, which is Ronaldo’s city rival Al-Nassr, is also set to bring the star Argentine’s former Barcelona teammates. Will they compete in the same league again, plus a city derby?

Lionel Messi leaves for Saudi Arabia after the season

Lionel Messi’s days at Paris Saint-Germain appear to be numbered. The player has been booed by his own fans in recent weeks, who have expressed their dissatisfaction with the star Argentine’s performances given the salary he is receiving in the French capital. Moreover, the player travelled to Arabia after the league loss to Lorient, for which he was punished by the club.

The player is out of contract at Princes Park at the end of this season and it certainly doesn’t look like he will be extending his contract with the club. He will become a free agent and is free to decide where his next steps in his career will lead.

Although there have been speculations about him returning to Barcelona, the big club from sunny Catalonia has huge financial problems. The arrival of the then 36-year-old would certainly not help the economic stability of the club.

Messi will certainly be able to choose, at this stage of his career he has nothing to prove to anyone. One of the options is to sign a financially attractive contract, which can be offered by clubs from the Middle East or overseas.

Will he spark another chapter in his rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo after all these years?

According to the latest reports, it really looks like a move to Saudi Arabia after all, which would spark another rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo. This would be spiced up by another factor besides the fact that they would be reunited in the same league.

For Al-Hilal, which has attracted Messi to its ranks, is the city rival of Al-Nassr, where Cristiano Ronaldo is the star. Al-Hilal officials, however, are reportedly luring Messi with two names that played with him during his long tenure at Barcelona.

One of them is Sergio Busquets, who is out of contract in the Catalan capital after the season. He is expected to be joined by Jordi Alba, with whom he played football during his time at Barcelona. The duo is also expected to be completed by PSG defender Marco Veratti.

According to Spanish TV station El Chiringuito, Messi has already given the nod to the Arab club’s offer, which is expected to be around £400 million a year. However, Fabrizio Romano claims that the Argentine will make his decision at the end of the season.

So will we see a continuation of one of the greatest football rivalries in history?

Source: Forbes, El Chiringuito TV, Twitter