Lionel Messi has been rumored to be offered a chance to come to play in Saudi Arabia. Not only that, but they are willing to make him the world’s highest-paid athlete to convince him to ditch Paris Saint Germain for them.
Just after winning the 2022 World Cup, various French sources said that Messi intended to exit PSG despite a verbal commitment to stay. The ex-Barcelona captain has been connected with an emotional return to his former club, as well as MLS team Inter Miami, which David Beckham co-owns. According to other sources, now Saudi teams are also vying for the player’s signature.
Lionel Messi is being offered to come to Saudi Arabia by not one but two big Saudi Pro League clubs. The teams are Al-Hilal based in Riyadh and Al Itihad based in Jeddah. Both are going all out to entice the football great, offering him 350 million euros ($370 million) for a season. Not only is the figure nearly double what former rival Ronaldo gets ($187 million), but it has the potential to rekindle one of football’s greatest rivalries.
Al Ittihad have joined Al Hilal in registering their interest in luring Lionel Messi to Saudi Arabia from Paris Saint-Germain. (Marca)
— RumorsTransfersNews24/7 đź“° (@rumorstransfers) January 15, 2023
Al Hilal in particular is interesting as they are direct rivals of Al Nassr, where Cristiano Ronaldo plays currently. Ronaldo joined Al Nassr after leaving Manchester United by mutual agreement. He won February’s Player of the Month award after scoring 8 goals and assisting twice in 4 games. If Messi does decide to go to Saudi, fans of the two will do anything they can just to see the two soccer legends battle it out on the same stage once again. Earlier in January, Al Nassr and PSG had a friendly match where both Messi and Ronaldo scored. One VIP ticket went for 2.6 million euros showing the amount of craze regarding these two.
Messi will have his contract expire in the coming summer. While PSG is doing everything they can to keep the Argentine in Paris, an offer of such lucrative money is hard to pass up plus you get to duke it out against your greatest rival again. However, there are still no reports of any offers presented to Messi’s camp yet and whether he would accept it or not is another question.
Messi last scored in a 4-2 win against Nantes. It was his 799th career goal and also a record of 1000 club goal involvements The World Cup winner has 13 goals and 12 assists in just 21 appearances helping PSG to be the league leader. After arriving in Paris from Barcelona last season where he initially suffered, he has since turned it up this season. He was also the World Cup’s Best player and won FIFA’s Best award. No wonder why clubs are dying to get their hands on the superstar.
Messi will now face Bayern Munich away on Wednesday night in the Champions League. He will hope to overturn a 1-0 defeat in the first leg to advance to the quarter-finals.
