Messi And Benzema Possibly Following Cristiano Ronaldo To Saudi Arabia

JAKARTA Lionel Messi and Karim Benzema have a great chance of following Cristiano Ronaldo to Saudi Arabia next season after the two are confirmed to be separated from their respective clubs.

Messi has confirmed that he will not play for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) next season after playing his last match against Clermont in the last match of the French League at the Parc des Princes Stadium, Paris, Sunday, July 4.

Benzema also announced a breakup from Real Madrid on Sunday. The France international played his last game against Athletic Bilbao at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Following the announcement of the separation of Saudi Arabia's television channel Al-Ekhbariya claims that 35-year-old Benzema has signed a contract with Jeddah-based Al-Ittihad.

Al-Ekhbariya said that the club president, who had just won the Saudi Arabian League, and his deputy, was in the Spanish capital.

"To officially sign Benzema in a record transfer with Real Madrid," the media reported.

The television station said Benzema had approved a two-year contract with a club based on the Red Sea coast in the Gulf kingdom.

On the other hand, the issue of Messi joining Saudi Arabia also continues to tighten. The latest report says senior officials from Al Hilal have flown to France to try to finalize a deal with Messi.

One of the sources on Sunday told the AFP news agency that the Saudi delegation plans to meet Messi's father and agent, Jorge, with the aim of completing the signing process as soon as possible.

Messi arrived in Paris two seasons ago from Barcelona. However, while there he could not help PSG win the European Champions League title after being eliminated in the last 16 in the last two seasons.