Published: 10:32, May 11, 2023 | Updated: 17:01, May 11, 2023
'As long as he's happy': boss of Argentina says on Messi moves
By Reuters

Argentina's coach Lionel Scaloni (right) oversees an official training as Lionel Messi walks by on the eve of the quarterfinal World Cup soccer match between Argentina and the Netherlands in Doha, Qatar on Dec 8, 2022. (PHOTO / AP)

Argentina's World Cup-winning coach Lionel Scaloni said he does not care where Lionel Messi plays his club football as long as he feels comfortable and happy.

Messi's future at Paris Saint Germain has been the subject of much speculation over the last week after the Qatari-owned club suspended him for taking a trip to Saudi Arabia and missing a training session.

French media on Tuesday reported that a move to a Saudi club was a "done deal", adding that the Argentina captain was in the process of finalizing details before signing a contract.

Let him (Lionel Messi) go to where he will feel comfortable with his team mates and the club's fans ... The matter does not affect us as a national team as long as he's happy when he joins us and we need him to be happy.

Lionel Scaloni, coach of the Argentina national team

Messi's father, however, denied any agreement had been reached with another team and said that no decisions would be made until the end of the current season.

ALSO READ: Messi's father dismisses Saudi links

"Let him go to where he will feel comfortable with his team mates and the club's fans," Scaloni told Qatar's Al-Kass channel.

"The matter does not affect us as a national team as long as he's happy when he joins us and we need him to be happy."

Messi, who apologized to PSG and his team mates last week, returned to training on Monday.

A source close to Messi told Reuters that he had received a formal offer to join the Saudi club Al-Hilal next season, with a contract renewal at PSG not on the cards for the World Cup winner.

The oil-rich nation appointed Messi, who turns 36 next month, as a tourism ambassador last year and he visited Jeddah in May 2022.

READ MORE: Messi back in training with PSG

He returned in January to play a friendly match with PSG against a Saudi All Stars team, which included Cristiano Ronaldo - Messi's rival for the title of best player of his generation.