‘Done deal’? Rumours of Messi leaving PSG for Saudi Arabia abound

Messi will sign a "huge" deal with an as-yet-unnamed club, said the source, who is close to the negotiations that are taking place just months after the 35-year-old lifted the World Cup in Qatar.

"Messi is a done deal. He will play in Saudi Arabia next season," the source told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"The contract is exceptional. It's huge. We are just finalising some small details," added the source, who was not authorised to speak to media. 

There was no confirmation from Messi's current club PSG, which noted simply that he was under contract until June 30 when contacted by AFP. 

A separate PSG source told AFP: "If the club had wanted to renew his contract, it would have been done earlier."

The anonymous reports add to the rumours about a Messi move to Saudi that have been circulating ever since PSG suspended him last week for an unauthorised mid-season trip to the desert kingdom, where he is a tourism ambassador.      

Just five years after lifting the ban on women drivers and allowing the first non-Muslim tourists to visit, Saudi Arabia is attempting to open up its ultra-conservative society and diversify its oil-reliant economy.

The world's biggest oil exporter has thrown hundreds of millions at sports deals including signing Ronaldo, holding the F1 in Jeddah and the divisive LIV Golf tour, drawing frequent claims it is "sportswashing" its human rights record.

Messi's expected arrival follows in the footsteps of ex-Manchester United and Real Madrid great Cristiano Ronaldo – the only player to challenge’s Messi’s status as the greatest in the contemporary game. Ronaldo joined Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr in a massive deal in January, ending his second, far less gilded spell at Old