Lionel Messi’s transfer saga with all twists and feints: Where will he play next season?

On one hand lies Barcelona – his former club, where he spent over two decades. On the other hand, lies Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal – only a few days removed from a loss in the finals of the AFC Champions League, and outsmarted by Cristiano Ronaldo’s move to rival Al-Nassr in the summer.

A complicated time in Paris

The current uncertainty regarding Messi’s situation is largely to do with his complicated time at PSG. The Qatar state-owned French club has changed managers and deployed every tactic, but failed to get the frontline of Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Messi to truly blossom.

There is also the matter of Messi’s age, which has shown itself on the pitch recently. His speed with the ball has waned, diminishing his ability to be as effective a ball carrier as he used to be in his prime. Couple that with his reluctance to press and win the ball back for his team, PSG suddenly finds itself with a luxury that, even with its fat wallets, it cannot afford.

Saudi trip a tipping point

While tensions have been bubbling quietly under the surface for a while now, the tipping point was a short ‘holiday’ taken by the superstar to go to Saudi Arabia. Qatar and Saudi Arabia are major political rivals in the Middle East and a contracted Messi going ‘without permission’ to visit Riyadh was a step too far for Doha.

An immediate suspension was rolled out. PSG ultras, some of the loudest in Europe, marched to the club headquarters demanding that one of the greatest superstars in modern football be cut loose.

While Messi soon responded with an apology, the relationship between club and player remains sour – perhaps beyond redemption.

“I honestly thought that we were going to have free time after the game as it had been happening in the previous weeks … I had organised this trip to Saudi Arabia that I had previously cancelled and I couldn’t [this time around] … I apologise for what I did and I’m waiting for what the club decides,” Messi said in a video.

A homecoming?

There are two main suitors for the Argentine, now that a stay at PSG seems unlikely. Barcelona FC is one of them.

If there is a club where Messi would want his football journey to end, it would be at Barcelona, the club which scouted him when he was 12, and the club from which an exit was once laughable. But then financial rules socked the Catalans in the throat and abruptly brought an end to Messi’s time with the club in 2021.

Now, Barcelona, still in the midst of major financial problems, tries to bring its greatest son back. However, La Liga’s financial fair play restrictions will continue to be the biggest roadblock.

That and a certain Saudi club with big pockets and possible state backing.

The promise of Al-Hilal

Simply put, Saudi club Al-Hilal would give Messi the opportunity to maximise his financial returns during the twilight his career.

There is also the matter of cashing in on a rivalry to its very last dredge. The superstar fates of Messi and Ronaldo have been intertwined even before the Portuguese attacker moved to Real Madrid. Messi moving to Al-Hilal, would continue this rivalry, with Ronaldo currently playing for rivals Al-Nassr.

Furthermore, for Saudis, looking to host the FIFA World Cup in 2030, having two footballing ambassadors in Messi and Ronaldo playing in their own domestic league would be a major coup.

According to the AFP, Messi to Al-Hilal is a done deal. “He will play in Saudi Arabia next season,” an anonymous source told AFP. “The contract is exceptional. It’s huge. We are just finalising some small details” the source added.

While Messi’s father (and agent) has come out and denied the report, speculation remains rife.

“There are always rumours and many use Lionel’s name to gain notoriety, but there is only one truth and it is that we can assure there is nothing (agreed) with anyone. Not verbal, not signed, no pacts. And there won’t be until the end of the season,” Jorge Messi said in a statement.

Sportswashing

The Messi to Al-Hilal rumours have also brought back to the forefront the issue of sportswashing –  how  nation states utilise sports to ‘whitewash’ their poor international image.

For instance, Saudi Arabia has an abysmal human rights records, and is known for its inhuman labour conditions, stifling of women’s rights, and disregard for civil liberties and free speech. It was accused by the US State Department of being responsible for the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who was killed in the Saudi Embassy in Istanbul.

By bringing Messi and Ronaldo to the Saudi Arabia, the country will have the two biggest names in football in its unarguably weak (when compared to Europe) domestic league. Not only could this help it land the 2030 World Cup (which in itself would be a major win for the country), just the duo’s presence would be a major boost for Saudi Arabia’s attempts to rehabilitate its own image.