Lionel Messi
El Pulga leads the list of stars playing in Europe most likely to move to Saudi Arabia to play football. Messi is expected to leave Paris Saint-Germain when his contract expires at the end of the season. The 35-year-old’s relationship with Ligue 1 representatives has fizzled out in recent weeks and he has just been suspended following an illegal trip to Saudi Arabia itself.
Messi has little time left to show his highest level of play after winning the World Cup in Qatar and it may be time to run for the money. Media reports the Arab club is ready to give the Argentine player a contract worth £ 320 million per year.
Lionel Messi’s time at Paris Saint-Germain is almost over.
Messi is already an ambassador to Saudi Arabia, making a deal a reality. However, Barcelona remain determined to bring their greatest player back to the Camp Nou, while the opportunity to play for Inter Miami also appeals to him.
Sergio Busquets
Messi’s story is unclear but Sergio Busquets seems certain to join an Arab club this summer. The 34-year-old midfielder will leave Barcelona when his contract expires next month.
Like Messi, Busquets doesn’t have much time left to play at his peak. Sources share that he is in talks to join Al-Hilal, the club is also pursuing Messi’s signature. According to Mundo Deportivo, Busquets will earn €18 million a year in Saudi Arabia, around £300,000 a week.
Hugo Lloris
Hugo Lloris is tipped to leave Tottenham when his contract expires this summer and a destination in Saudi Arabia becomes an option. According to The Times, there is an Arab club willing to triple its salary to £300,000 a week for the 2018 World Cup winner.
Lloris will struggle to find another club willing to meet his current salary, let alone accept a better offer. Therefore, the beckoning from Arabia is likely to attract the French goalkeeper.
Wilfried Zaha
Zaha’s current contract with Crystal Palace is set to expire this summer. The Ivory Coast international is likely to receive offers from Champions League clubs, but the bid from the Arab league will certainly be unrivaled.
According to the Daily Mail, Zaha has received an offer of £9m a year (about £173,000 a week) from Al-Ittihad. Palace are willing to pay him £200,000 a week to keep him at Selhurst Park, but that figure is before tax. Thus, Al-Ittihad’s offer is more lucrative.
Jordi Alba
The final part of Al-Hilal’s three-pronged plan is to bring in Alba and reunite him with Messi and Busquets. The 34-year-old defender still has 13 months left on his Barcelona contract but could be allowed to leave Camp Nou sooner.
It’s unclear how much Al-Hilal is willing to pay Alba, but it’s likely the same amount as Busquets. The Spaniard is set to meet with the Barcelona board to discuss his future.
N’Golo Kante
N’Golo Kante could leave Chelsea this summer.
The 32-year-old France international has only played seven Premier League games for Chelsea and is out of contract next month. As reported by Foot Mercato, Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr is interested in signing Kante.
However, they will need to offer him a competitive deal to overcome Barca, the club that wants to recruit the 2018 World Cup winners or Chelsea themselves, which collectively hope to keep Kante.
Lu Feng | 23:16 11/05/2023
