Lionel Messi given what Cristiano Ronaldo craves with lucrative new offer
Lionel Messi has been offered a lucrative new deal at Paris Saint-Germain following his impressive start to the season.
The 35-year-old has scored nine goals and chipped in with 10 assists in 15 matches so far this season – with PSG unbeaten in all competitions. After a disappointing first campaign at the French giants, Messi has re-found his form and is spearheading an attack with Kylian Mbappe and Neymar alongside him.
According to Le Parisien, PSG are already working on a new deal for the Argentine, whose current contract runs out next summer, and the club want the player to stay beyond that. Messi joined PSG from Barcelona on a free transfer in 2021 and is reportedly earning around £700,000 a week.
It is understood PSG are ready to offer Messi a new one-year contract, plus an option to extend his stay by a further 12 months, with economic conditions unmatched by any other club in the world. This would take Messi to his 23nd season in professional football.
However, Messi also has other offers on the table and is fortunate enough to control his own destiny. Barcelona are sounding out the possibility to re-sign the forward after he left just over a year ago.
Although the Catalan side have struggled financially in recent seasons since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, vice president Romeu believes his possible arrival to Camp Nou is more than feasible. Joan Laporta also recently acknowledged that he feels indebted to the Argentine following his initial departure last summer.
Another option Messi would consider is a move to the MLS, with a number of teams reportedly keen on his signature. He could follow the likes of Gareth Bale, Lorenzo Insigne and Gonzalo Higuain out to the States after they decided to take the plunge in the summer.
Messi’s new proposed deal simply highlights the different situation he has found himself in compared to old rival Cristiano Ronaldo. The duo have spent their careers being compared and battled for numerous individual awards over the years.
But whilst Messi is a star performer at his club and in control of his own destiny, Ronaldo is facing an uncertain future at Manchester United. He is frustrated at a lack of playing time and also a lack of opportunities to move elsewhere, two things Messi is not having to worry about at this moment in time.
