Next week, Messi will announce his next club. It has been revealed that the Arab world will be the place where Messi chooses to play football at the end of his career. The oil dollars have won the bidding war for the Argentine superstar in a stunning turn of events.
It is believed that although the official announcement may come next week, Messi made the decision a month ago when he personally went to the Saudi Arabian capital to fulfill a commitment with the Royal Tourism Board. For nearly a year, Leo has been an ambassador for Saudi tourism in exchange for a golden contract. Money has the power to dictate when you are at the end of your sports career, and you think about what you can earn so that you and your family will have a secure future forever. $600 million is simply an offer that cannot be refused. There is no other secret. It is worth sacrificing two years to become the richest football player in history.
Messi’s desire has always been to end his career at Barça, but the circumstances have not been met, and the organization’s financial situation has made it impossible. Barça is still waiting for La Liga’s “humanitarian” treatment in terms of the player registration procedures for next season, and they have not even been able to make any official offer to Messi. “Returning to Barca” is an impossible wish, just an illusion. Leo realized this, even though he had heard countless warnings, to the point where it became a garbage tune about the uncertainty at Barca.
But Messi still wants to wait. He also did not seriously consider the previous offer from Inter Miami, simply because they only wanted to pay him about 10% of what he could earn in Arabia. He has been silent for some time, not saying a word. After winning the French League and playing his final game with PSG today, he may announce his move to Al-Hilal, the most decorated club in Saudi Arabia.
On April 2, more than two months ago, we wrote in the column about a contemplation of Messi’s future: “The heart says yes, the head says no.” It was a way of expressing the desire of many culés to see the Argentine player wearing the Blaugrana shirt once again, although we all know that at the age of 36, that is a short-term bet. Twenty days ago, we announced that he had seemingly made his decision about his future, and would play in Arabia with Busquets and Alba. Many questioned it, out of nostalgia. That is probably the ending that Leo has chosen after winning every possible professional football title. Messi always likes a life without media pressure or sports pressure. Choosing a new life, new experiences for the family away from the crazy crowds with all the clinging, is a wish that can be imagined if you want to understand more about Leo’s choice.
Riyadh is not Barcelona or Paris, but there you will have all the amenities in the world. For some deal that Messi may have agreed to, it can be understood that Leo will live like a king in the final two years of playing.
