Messi's #visitsaudi post sets tongues wagging

Lionel Messi is set to leave PSG in the summer and has been linked with former club Barcelona, along with MLS side Inter Miami.

Messi has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia in recent months since long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr.

Messi shared a sponsored image from Saudi Arabia as he expressed his love of the country's landscape.

Messi's post on Instagram read: "Who thought Saudi has so much green? I love to explore its unexpected wonders whenever I can. #visitsaudi."

The Instagram post came a day after, Barcelona coach Xavi confirmed on Saturday that the Catalan club had been in talks with LaLiga over the possibility of bringing back Messi, who had spent his entire career at Camp Nou before his shock departure in 2021.

Messi will be 36 this summer but is still sought after and will be in contention for an eighth Ballon d'Or later this year after leading Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar last December.

Messi has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia in the recent months since long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr. The latest mix with the Middle East nation will be worrying for fans of Barcelona and Inter Miami, with both teams interested in signing him from PSG when his contract at the French club expires.

Messi is unlikely to reach an agreement to extend his contract at PSG, which runs out at the end of the season. He signed a two-year deal on his arrival from Barcelona in 2021.

While Barcelona president Joan Laporta maintains an interest in funding a deal to take the Argentina captain back to the Spotify Camp Nou, the LaLiga leaders continue to battle against financial problems, and a move for Messi appears unlikely to succeed.