LIONEL MESSI is being eyed up by Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal in a deal worth £245MILLION per year, according to reports.
Cristiano Ronaldo arrived in the Middle East earlier this month after agreeing a £173m-a-year transfer to Al Nassr.
It makes him the highest-paid sports star in the world by some margin as he prepares to finish his career with the club.
But according to Mundo Deportivo, Messi could be given the opportunity to dwarf Ronaldo’s wage packet in the coming months.
The Argentine, 35, is out of contract at Paris Saint-Germain in the summer.
Reports have claimed he has a “verbal agreement” with the Ligue 1 champions to extend his stay in the French capital.
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But he is now being linked with a lucrative move to Al Hilal.
The Saudi side are the bitter rivals of Ronaldo’s Al Nassr and the two teams make up the “Riyadh derby” each year.
The deal would see Messi earn around £70m MORE than Ronaldo each year.
Al Hilal currently sit third in the Saudi Pro League, three points behind table toppers Al Nassr.
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Messi also has Saudi links having signed a £25m deal to promote tourism in the country.
However, despite the huge money on offer in the Middle East, remaining at PSG is the most likely outcome for the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner.
His World Cup triumph proved he is still one of the best players in the world.
And he then marked his return to the French giants with a goal on Wednesday night as Christophe Galtier’s side claimed a 2-0 win over Angers.
Messi has already racked up 13 goals and 14 assists in 20 games for PSG this season.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
