Lionel Messi hands Barcelona transfer boost following reports of ‘done deal’ transfer

Lionel Messi’s brother Jorge Messi has hit back at claims that the PSG man has already completed his move away from the French capital this summer, leaving Barcelona in the race for his signature.

Reports emerged that the Argentine, who is out of contract in Paris at the end of the season, had agreed to join Saudi Arabia side Al-Hilal in a deal worth over £200m per year, following in the footsteps of Cristiano Ronaldo, who joined Al-Nassr in January.

Leo Messi’s transfer to Saudi Arabia is a ‘done deal,’ according to @afpfr 🇸🇦 pic.twitter.com/TwUsWYiq4L

— B/R Football (@brfootball) May 9, 2023

However, that has since been debunked by Messi’s own family.

Taking to social media, Lionel’s brother Jorge Messi explained:

“There is absolutely nothing with anyone for next year,” he said in a statement.

“The decision will never be made before Lionel finishes the league with PSG.

Messi returned to training on Monday after initially having been suspended by PSG for an unscheduled trip to Saudi Arabia, which saw him miss training and for which he has since apologised.

He is expected to leave Paris at the end of the season, with PSG ultras keen to see the back of the Argentine and having made their feelings clear over the course of the season.

Barcelona still in with a shout?

Barcelona would love to be able to bring Messi back to Catalonia, but face major financial obstacles to do so.

At the beginning of March, La Liga president Javier Tebas revealed that ‘As of today, Barcelona doesn’t have any room in its budget to spend in the upcoming transfer window’.

‘Barcelona has been involved in questionable behaviour which has had an impact on LaLiga and we are acting accordingly. We have ruled that they can no longer sign more players”.

File photo dated 03-10-2018 of Lionel Messi, with whom Barcelona vice president Rafa Yuste has said the club has been in contact about a possible return to the Camp Nou. Issue date: Friday March 31, 2023. 2PJ5D3X File photo dated 03-10-2018 of Lionel Messi, with whom Barcelona vice president Rafa Yuste has said the club has been in contact about a possible return to the Camp Nou. Issue date: Friday March 31, 2023. (Alamy Stock Photo)

‘In the case of Barcelona, they have to drop spending on wages and transfers from £532m to £399m (€650m to €450m), so it’s a budget of minus £177m (€200m).

Sales of prominent players, including Raphinha, Ansu Fati, Franck Kessie and Frenkie de Jong have all been mooted, but even then they may struggle to find the budget for Messi’s hefty salary.