The success of Al-Nassar in acquiring Cristiano Ronaldo is said to have given other Saudi Arabian clubs hope that, with the right offer, they could get the Portugal international’s longtime fierce rival Lionel Messi. According to Spanish journalist Joan Fontes, Al-Ittihad FC may make an incredible offer to sign Messi this summer. Al-Ittihad is apparently willing to hand the Argentine a two-year contract and a salary of €88 million per season. He would become the highest-paid player in football history if he accepts this offer.
This comes after it is being reported that Messi’s contract extension talks with PSG have been stalled. The Argentine was apparently ready to extend his stay at the Parisian club beyond this season, but things have now taken a turn with his contract running down at the end of the season. Al-Ittihad want to challenge rivals Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr for the league title which they last won in 2008/09 season, and hence are eyeing to recruit Lionel Messi.
Saudi wants to reignite the Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo rivalry
With Cristiano Ronaldo’s European departure to join Al Nassr, his rivalry with Lionel Messi cooled down as well since it was clear that the two Goliaths of the game won’t be battling against each other at club level. Although PSG played Al Nassr in a friendly last month which pitted the two against each other, that was it from their last ever face-off. However, Saudi wants to revive the age-old rivalry with Al-Ittihad doing everything possible in their limits to lure Messi to middle-east.
Given that the Argentine’s contract with Paris Saint-Germain ends at the end of the current season, his future remains uncertain after extension talks were put on hold. Despite the French giants’ desire to have Messi on their roster for at least the next couple of seasons, there has been no agreement on a contract extension. In the event that the World Cup winner decides against extending his stay in Paris, it has been widely assumed that he will either move back to Barcelona or sign with Inter Miami of the Major League Soccer.
However, Al-Ittihad believe they are ready to compete with the likes of Barcelona, who are already in a financial turmoil and Inter Miami, who are still trying to make their mark in the MLS. The Saudi outfit feels they could take advantage of Messi’s brilliant relationship with the country’s government since the 35-year-old has signed as their travel ambassador. On a visit to the Red Sea port city of Jeddah in May last year, the Argentinian was introduced as the newest tourist ambassador for Saudi Arabia.
Messi first came into contact with the Saudi kingdom in 2011, when he captained Argentina in a friendly game against the Saudi national team. Since then, he has made multiple appearances, including the 2020 Spanish Super Cup and the 2019 Superclasico de las Americas. Also, he has been featured on billboards promoting the Saudi government’s Riyadh Season entertainment festival scheduled for 2022.
The newfound alliance between Saudi Arabia and Lionel Messi, is undoubtedly one of its most important accomplishments as it seeks to increase its influence in the sports and entertainment industries. Al-Ittihad would certainly want to use these ties to try and convince the former Barca star to more realistically promote the country by playing itself there. However, the FIFA The Best award winner looks unlikely to leave Europe at least for another couple of years.