Analyst names surprise 'easiest fit' for Lionel Messi

ESPN's Ryan O'Hanlon has suggested Paris Saint-Germain forward Lionel Messi could shock the footballing world as a free agent this summer. 

In a piece published Tuesday, O'Hanlon named English Premier League club Newcastle United as "the easiest fit for" Messi "from a financial and a sporting perspective" assuming the 35-year-old and Paris Saint-Germain part ways once his contract expires after the season as expected. 

"They've been punching above their talent level this season, and adding in a superstar like Messi wouldn't throw things out of whack in the same way they might for (other) clubs," O'Hanlon said of Newcastle. "They're something of a legacy club — oh, and they're owned by the country that Messi just got suspended for visiting as part of his ambassadorial duties to the nation." 

Even before Messi served what became a reduced suspension related to a recent trip to Saudi Arabia, he had been linked in rumors with Saudi club Al-Hilal and reportedly could earn roughly $400M annually as one of the faces of the Saudi Pro League along with Cristiano Ronaldo of Al-Nassr. Jorge Messi, Lionel's father and agent, has insisted the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner hasn't yet made any final decision about his plans beyond the ongoing campaign as his son presumably has a potential return to Barcelona and a move to Major League Soccer on the table. 

O'Hanlon mentioned that "Messi already had to leave Barcelona once because their financial mismanagement...made it impossible for them to fit his salary at a number he was willing to accept," and it's believed Messi would have to take a "massive pay cut" to even receive an offer from the Catalan club. Additionally, O'Hanlon referred to the Saudi Pro League as one that "no one cares about," and he also pointed out that MLS and Inter Miami "probably can't even afford" Messi at this time. 

As for Newcastle, they currently sit third in the Premier League table and are on track to present Messi and any other player with an opportunity to compete in the UEFA Champions League next season. If it's true that Messi prefers to remain in a top European league until next year's Copa America, Newcastle could become his top potential landing spot between now and the start of the 2023-24 campaign.