With Lionel Messi tipped to join Saudi giants Al Hilal, there is now reportedly a big potential stumbling block in his proposed move to the Middle East.
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The 2022 FIFA World Cup winner is believed to have been offered a deal worth more than €400 million (R8.1 billion) a year by the Saudi Pro League giants, which would be the biggest football contract ever.
While there have been reports that Messi has verbally agreed to play for Al Hilal next season, he might be apprehensive about making the switch to the Gulf state due to his partner's reservations on the transfer.
According to L'Equipe, the football icon's wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, is hesitant about making the move to the Saudi capital because of their three young kids and "can't imagine" moving there, and would prefer to stay in Europe.
The four-time UEFA Champions League winner is expected to leave Paris Saint-Germain once his contract with the club expires at the end of June.
The 35-year-old and his wife are said to dream of a return to Barcelona, but while the Blaugrana are actively trying to re-sign their all-time top goalscorer, that deal appears very unlikely at this stage considering the financial restraints the LaLiga giants are currently under.
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The diminutive attacker was recently handed a two-week suspension by PSG after an unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia last week, but this was cut short after his apology on Friday and he returned to first-team training on Monday. Messi will be hoping to return for the Ligue 1 title run-in as the club looks to secure its 11th French top-flight championship.
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