Saudi football club Al Hilal officials in Paris to seal Lionel Messi deal: sources

Senior officials from Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal football club have flown to Paris to seal a mega-deal with departing superstar Lionel Messi, two sources with knowledge of the matter told AFP on Sunday.

The Saudi delegation plans to meet Messi's father and agent, Jorge, with the aiming of completing the signing as soon as possible, the sources said.

Messi's departure from Qatar-owned Paris-Saint Germain was confirmed on Saturday and he was jeered by a section of the club's fans in his final appearance, a 3-2 defeat by Clermont.

"There is a Saudi delegation in Paris with one goal: to return with Messi official approval to the Saudi offer," a source close to the club said.

Another official, who is close to the negotiations, said: "We are in the final stage of the deal. "If everything goes well, Messi will sign his new contract and Al-Hilal will announce it before the weekend."

Messi, 35, arrived in Paris two seasons ago from Barcelona, but was unable to help PSG win an elusive Champions League title, as the club suffered last-16 defeats in both campaigns with the Argentine maestro.

Along with oil-wealthy Saudi Arabia -- where Cristiano Ronaldo has been playing since January -- the seven-time Ballon d'Or-winner has also been linked with a return to Barcelona and with David Beckham's Inter Miami.

On Saturday, Saudi state television channel Al-Ekhbariya said French striker Karim Benzema, who is leaving Real Madrid, had signed with Jeddah-based Al-Ittihad.

• Messi's final match for PSG ends in defeat