**Chelsea are keeping close tabs on NEOM SC winger Rayane Messi, according to _Bild_ reporter Christian Falk.**
Writing on his personal website, [_CF Bayern Insider_](https://cfbayerninsider.com/2026/03/the-bayern-insider-messi-lands-on-munichs-summer-shortlist-as-chelsea-given-transfer-warning-shot/), Falk said that Bayern Munich are also tracking the 18-year-old, but Chelsea would be the favourite for the player’s signature as his parent club is Strasbourg:
“As we’ve heard, the Blues are also interested in the teenager and so hold the advantage here. So, if he were to return to Europe, it would probably be to Chelsea rather than Bayern Munich.”
Messi only moved on loan to the Saudi Pro League at the beginning of February, having played for Ligue One side Pau in the first half of the campaign.
Why are teams so keen on Messi?
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While he has yet to really make a big impression at senior level, his performances at lower age groups have caught the attention.
Messi has been selected for France at the Under-16, Under-17, Under-18 and Under-19 levels. He last made an appearance for the Under 19s back in September, playing the full 90 minutes during a 1-0 win over the Republic of Ireland.
Senior commitments have meant that he hasn’t featured in recent squads, but he looked good in his first few appearances for NEOM SC, having scored his first goal against Al-Kholood in a 2-1 defeat at the end of last month.
Chelsea are not short of wingers
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Geovany Quenda is set to arrive from Sporting Lisbon at the beginning of July, so the Blues will soon have five wide players in the first-team squad.
Head coach Liam Rosenior already has the likes of Pedro Neto, Estevao, Alejandro Garnacho and Jamie Gittens at his disposal. With that being the case, you can’t see there being room for Messi as well.
[**Read more about the Chelsea First Team Squad for 2025/26 here**](https://chelseanews.com/blog/chelsea-first-team-squad/)