Fahd bin Nafel, president of Saudi club Al Hilal, refused to comment on a possible transfer of PSG and Argentina striker and 2022 World Champion Lionel Messi to the team.
The Associated Press reported on May 9 that "The Leaders" and the 35-year-old forward had reached an agreement for the Argentine to move to the Saudi club in the summer of 2023.
Don't ask me questions about Messi. I won't tell you anything. If the press office publishes a statement, you will see it. For me, the team is more important than the player
Fahd bin Nafel, after Al Hilal's victory in the Saudi Arabian King Cup final
On May 12, in Jeddah, the leaders defeated the Al Wahda club from Mecca (1-1 in regulation time, 7-6 in the penalty shoot-out).
It should be recalled that Messi was suspended from training with the main team and participating in matches due to an uncoordinated trip to Saudi Arabia after the defeat of the Parisians in the game of the 33rd round of Ligue 1 against Lorient (1-3). Messi played 28 games in the French league during the 2022/2023 season where he scored 15 goals and assisted the same number of times.
Messi's contract with the Blaugrana runs until June 2023 and is unlikely to be extended.