Lionel Messi has already made very clear what he thinks about the Saudi Pro League, as the Argentine has been linked with a move to the Middle East.
Messi, 38, is currently at MLS side Inter Miami, having joined from Paris Saint-Germain in 2023.
On Sunday, he added two more goals to his tally, taking his total to 52 strikes in 64 appearances for the Herons as they romped to a 4-1 victory away at Montreal.
But the player’s future is still unclear, and as things stand, he will become a free agent this winter.
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And despite being in his 39th year, he will not be short of suitors if he does become available.
On Monday, French outlet L’Equipe reported that Saudi Pro League side and current AFC Champions League holders Al Ahli have been working to convince Messi to join, although Miami are keen to retain the player beyond the winter.
In 2023, fellow Saudi side Al Hilal reportedly offered Messi a deal worth €1.5b (£1.3b) over three years, but he opted to move to the States.
With long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo having recently committed his future to Saudi outfit Al Nassr for another two years, Messi’s interest could be piqued at the thought of renewing their iconic rivalry.
What has the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner said previously about the league?
Speaking about the options he had available before joining Miami to TIME in 2023, Messi said: “The truth is that fortunately, I had several options on the table that were interesting, and I had to analyze them and think, even weigh them up with my family, before making the final decision to come to Miami.
“My first option was to return to Barcelona, but it was not possible
“It is also true that later I was thinking a lot about going to the Saudi league, where I know the country, and they have created a very powerful competition that can become an important league in the near future
“As the country’s tourism ambassador, it was a destination that attracted me, especially because I’ve enjoyed everything I have visited, because of how football is growing in the country and because of the effort they are putting into creating a top competition.”
As reported by The Guardian, Messi’s commercial deal with the Saudi Tourism Authority is said to be worth around $25m (£18.4m) over three years.
His obligations include promoting campaigns, social media posts, charity appearances and all-paid-expenses vacations.
Of course, the country will host the 2034 World Cup and what better way to capture the attention of football fans than having the two greatest players of all time playing in a league?
Topics: Lionel Messi, Inter Miami, Saudi Pro League, Cristiano Ronaldo, MLS
Luke Davies