Lionel Messi contract: PSG not expected to offer new deal, Argentine

Paris Saint-Germain are not planning to extend Lionel Messi’s contract once it expires this summer as the Argentina legend is primed to hit free agency in search for another club, according to French publication L’Equipe on Tuesday. 

This development is one of the consequences of the past 48 hours, which saw PSG suffer a shock home defeat to Lorient in League 1 play followed by Messi taking an unauthorized trip to Saudi Arabia with his family as part of a promotional commercial agreement. As a result of failing to report to training on Monday, the club has fined and suspended Messi for two weeks, which makes him unavailable for league games at Troyes and against Ajaccio.

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FC Barcelona, Messi’s former club, and MLS side Inter Miami CF have been linked with the 2022 World Cup winner as the relationship with the French club appears to have soured. Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal made a stunning €400-million-a-year offer for Messi to join the same league as Cristiano Ronaldo. And Messi, who is already a Saudi tourism ambassador, isn’t the only high-profile veteran star being…