Messi to turn down €400m offer to make Barcelona return

Robin Bairner | Chief Editor

Accredited football journalist and editor covering the game since 2006

Lionel Messi is ready to turn down a staggering €400 million-per-year offer from Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal to move back to Barcelona.

Messi will be a free agent in the summer, with the 35-year-old looking increasingly unlikely to remain at PSG.

Indeed, reports in France suggest that while the Ligue 1 leaders are willing to make an offer to keep the player at the club, this will be on their terms – and the World Cup winner is not ready to accept though.

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Fabrizio Romano, meanwhile, reports that Al Hilal have made a concrete offer for Messi worth upwards of €400m per season. If accepted, that would see the Argentine reunite with long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo in the Saudi Pro League, with the Portuguese turning out for Al-Nassr.

Despite this huge proposal, though, the transfer specialist has suggested that Messi is ready to turn down those riches.

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“My understanding is that Messi’s priority is to remain in Europe,” he reports. “Leo feels that he can be competitive in Europe for more time. It’s also important to Messi he feels he can be competitive until at least the Copa America – at least for at least 18 months more.

“The idea of Messi is to continue in Europe. Let’s see if Al-Hilal will be able to tempt him. It’s a historical proposal because that would be a mad salary for Messi.”

Messi back to Barca?

Barcelona, meanwhile, have yet to make a bid for Messi but according to Romano, they are putting pressure on Messi to sign for the club. LaLiga’s leaders have admitted they want Messi back and Xavi has made repeated calls to the Argentine to lure him into a return to Camp Nou.

The situation is complicated for the meantime by Financial Fair Play and the fact that Barca need to make significant cuts to their wage bill before anyone can be signed.

“Messi is tempted by the return to Barca, but they have to proceed with the formal stages,” Romano says.

If Barcelona can get everything in order, then, it seems that the Argentine could well make a remarkable return.