Lionel Andrés Messi, considered one of the greatest footballers in history, is entering the final stretch of his professional career at 38, enjoying a new chapter away from European football. After more than two decades competing at the highest level in Europe, the Argentine star decided in 2023 to prioritize his family and move to the United States, where he found a more stable environment.
The chosen club was Inter Miami, a Major League Soccer (MLS) team that managed to convince Messi to become its biggest star. Since his arrival, the franchise has experienced unprecedented growth, winning its first titles and adding world-class reinforcements such as Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, Luis Suárez, and, most recently, Rodrigo De Paul.
The offer from Saudi Arabia that Messi rejected
Before finalizing his signing with Las Garzas, Lionel Messi received a historic offer from Saudi Arabia, which came very close to changing the course of his career. In recent hours, Anmar Al-Haili, owner of Al-Ittihad, revealed previously unpublished details about the figure offered to the world champion.
«If Messi agrees to sign with Al-Ittihad, I would offer him a contract where he could earn whatever amount he wanted, for as long as he wanted, even for life», the Saudi businessman declared, making it clear that the interest in signing the former Barcelona player remains.
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Messi and the €1.4 billion he said no to
Al-Haili confirmed that contact with Messi took place after his departure from PSG, at which point the Saudi club presented one of the largest offers in sports history.
«I offered him 1.4 billion euros a year, but he turned it down because his family preferred the United States. I respect him, and Al-Ittihad will always open its doors to him whenever he wants», the club owner explained, underscoring that the player’s decision was based on personal and family reasons.
The dream of seeing Messi in the Saudi league is still alive
The Saudi leader assured that signing Lionel Messi would be a total game-changer for local soccer, although he downplayed the financial aspect.
«Having Messi in Saudi Arabia means nothing to me financially. We would celebrate the league even before it started because we would have the best player in the history of soccer», he concluded.
Meanwhile, Messi continues to write his legacy in MLS with Inter Miami, cementing his influence on and off the field and demonstrating that, even in the final stage of his career, he remains the center of the global soccer market.
