Transfer Centre

Al-Hilal 'have not made Lionel Messi offer'

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 13 January 2023

Paris Saint-Germain attacker Lionel Messi has not received a £245m-a-year contract offer from Saudi Arabian giants Al-Hilal, according to Guillem Balague.

Saudi Arabian giants Al-Hilal have reportedly not presented a lucrative contract offer to Paris Saint-Germain attacker Lionel Messi.

The Argentina international is now in the final six months of his deal with the French champions and could potentially depart as a free agent in the summer.

PSG are working to tie Messi down to a new contract as a matter of priority, but a plethora of teams are supposedly beginning to formulate mammoth big-money offers.

Barcelona have long been linked with a sensational reunion with their all-time record goalscorer, which is not expected to come to fruition due to their financial constraints, and Inter Miami has also been touted as a possible destination.

Meanwhile, a recent report claimed that Al-Hilal were willing to offer the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner a contract worth £245m a year, making him the highest-paid player in the world.

Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022 © Reuters

However, speaking to BBC Sport, journalist Guillem Balague insisted that no such offer has been made to Messi, who remains focused on achieving further success in Europe.

"There hasn't been an offer [from Al Hilal]. PSG and Messi are organising a meeting in the next few weeks to finalise the deal that will keep him in Paris," Balague said.

"Right now, his motivation is to stay in Europe. He is favourite to win the Ballon d'Or, he is still in the Champions League, he has big targets after winning the World Cup. Not only does it make no sense to approach him with that offer, it hasn't existed."

PSG and Messi are believed to have been in talks over a contract extension for a number of months now, and negotiations accelerated following the attacker's World Cup triumph with Argentina.

It has been claimed that Messi has already verbally agreed to a new contract with Les Parisiens, although nothing has been made official yet as the two parties thrash out the final details.

Lionel Messi in action for Paris Saint-Germain on November 2, 2022 © Reuters

PSG manager Christophe Galtier recently confirmed that talks were ongoing over a new deal for Messi, who he believes is "happy" in the French capital, telling the press: "There are discussions, the sports management has exchanged with Leo on the subject of an extension. I do not know where it is.

"Leo seems happy to me in Paris. Afterwards, you have to see his position in relation to the project of the club. It's a subject I don't discuss with him."

Messi initially struggled to adapt to life in Ligue 1 after leaving Barcelona in 2021, but he has registered an impressive 24 goals and 29 assists in 54 appearances for PSG in all tournaments.

The 35-year-old has 13 goals and 14 assists to his name from 20 outings this term, including his side's second in their 2-0 win over Angers on Wednesday evening.

PSG sit six points clear of Lens at the top of the Ligue 1 table and are next in action away to Rennes on Sunday night.