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Report: Decision from Lionel Messi expected soon
International football fans may not have to wait long to learn if Lionel Messi will spend next season in Saudi Arabia, with Barcelona or as a Major League Soccer player.
CBS Sports soccer correspondent James Benge reported Tuesday that Saudi club Al-Hilal expect a decision from Messi's camp "by the end of the week."
"Recent dialogue with Messi's representatives has involved senior figures in the Saudi government," Benge noted, adding that Saudi sources are "confident" Messi will eventually accept the offer from the country so much so that "plans have been made for him to arrive in the kingdom later this week."
Benge's update comes one day after Jorge Messi, Lionel's father and agent, said the superstar "would love to return to Barcelona" once his Paris Saint-Germain contract officially expires at the end of this month. It was subsequently reported Messi could delay his move to Saudi Arabia until next year so that he could spend the 2023-24 season with Barcelona ahead of competing in the 2024 Copa America.
Messi, who serves as a Saudi tourism ambassador, reportedly could earn roughly $400M annually representing Al-Hilal. On Monday, Goal said the contract offer from Saudi Arabia could be worth as much as $541M per year.
Spanish football writer Guillem Balague, Henry Bushnell of Yahoo Sports and Defector's Albert Burneko are among those who have suggested financial issues similar to those that caused Messi to leave Barcelona as a free agent two summers ago will prevent him from re-signing with the Catalan club. Burneko called Barcelona's supposed pursuit of Messi a "degrading farce" largely because reports have indicated Barca couldn't register the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner as of the first Tuesday of June.
"Even if Messi were to accept the league's minimum wage (around €200,000 per year) a LaLiga source explained he would still account for €25M of (Barcelona's) annual spending cap due to a system which takes into account past wages and performances to prevent clubs from cheating fair play regulations," ESPN's Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens reported on Tuesday.
Balague tweeted Monday that Messi received an offer from MLS side Inter Miami "weeks ago" that "includes intertwined deals with big brands like Apple and Adidas" but is worth less money than what he'd earn in Saudi Arabia. Graham Ruthven of The Guardian wrote on Tuesday that "MLS would be a third choice for Messi."
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MLB sends message by suspending Victor Robles for bat-throwing incident
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