The president of the Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal Anmar Al Haili revealed to NIBC that an attempt to sign a contract with the forward of the MLS team Inter Miami and the Argentine national team Lionel Messi was unsuccessful.
The leaders from Riyadh reportedly tried to invite the 36-year-old forward in the summer of 2023 after his departure from Paris Saint-Germain.
We actually contacted Messi at the end of his contract in Paris. We presented him with an offer of €1.4 billion, but the player refused because his family wanted America. It is surprising that the player was able to refuse such a huge offer for the sake of his family.
Anmar Al Haili
Messi joined the Herons in July 2023 as a free agent. In the MLS-2024 season, the forward played 12 matches, scoring 12 goals and providing nine assists.
Messi's contract with Inter Miami expires at the end of December 2025, and the player's market value, according to Transfermarkt data, is estimated at 30 million euros.
On June 12, Messi stated to ESPN that Inter Miami would be his final club in his professional career. On June 15, the forward was named to the Argentine national team squad for the upcoming Copa America-2024.