Al Ahli star sends stark warning to Lionel Messi ahead of his proposed move to Saudi club

A former Premier League winner has warned Lionel Messi not to expect any special treatment if he leaves Inter Miami for the Saudi Pro League.

Messi has long been linked with a potential swansong in Saudi Arabia but has rebuffed the league's advances thus far, opting instead to join Inter Miami from Paris Saint-Germain in 2023.

The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner led the Herons to Major League Soccer's Supporters Shield in 2024 but they fell short as Los Angeles Galaxy went on to win the championship through the play-offs.

MLS held its annual All-Star Game in Austin this month but Messi and his Inter Miami teammate, Jordi Alba, declined to participate.

Per league rules, both were subsequently suspended for Miami's game against FC Cincinnati.

The relationship between MLS and Messi, 38, has often experienced slight turbulence, usually as a result of his marketability outstripping his ability to play as often as ticket sales demand.

In the wake of the most recent flicker of discontent, AFC Champions League Elite holders Al Ahli are reportedly preparing Saudi Arabia's latest attempt to lure world football's leading light to the Middle East, where a renewed rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo of Al Nassr would become a major football event.

Al Ahli finished fifth in the league in 2024-25 but were impressive in their Champions League Elite finals campaign.

They hope to add Messi to a squad that already boasts Ivan Toney, Allan Saint-Maximin and captain Riyad Mahrez, who won the Premier League with both Leicester City and Manchester City.

Mahrez moved to the Saudi Pro League in the summer of 2023 (Image: Getty)

The 34-year-old Algerian international has warned that while he sees the opportunity to play with Messi as special, the Argentina captain himself should not expect to be treated as such by the Pro League's defenders.

'I've taken a lot of hits'

"It's our childhood dream," Mahrez told CARRE of being Messi's teammate.

"As footballers, we saw him a lot; he's our role model. It would be truly exceptional to play with him. He's playing as a 10 and me on the right, switching from time to time. Would there be protection? There's no special protection for dribblers in the Saudi league. I've taken a lot of hits."

That's nothing new for Messi but his injury record since leaving Barcelona in 2021 might suggest he doesn't recover quite as quickly these days.