Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia is reportedly preparing a lucrative $234M per year offer to bring Lionel Messi to their Pro football league, where he would face off against long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who joined Al Nassr in January.
Messi’s father and agent, Jorge, was seen in Riyadh recently, leading to speculation about a potential move, as the Argentine World Cup winner’s contract with PSG expires this summer. While Messi’s visit was officially in his capacity as an ambassador to Saudi Arabia, rumors suggest that he may have been open to contract offers.
According to a report in Spanish newspaper Marca, Al Hilal is preparing a massive contract offer for Lionel Messi, which would make him the highest-paid footballer in the world and surpass the contract of his long-term rival Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Saudi club is currently under a transfer embargo, but with the ban set to be lifted in the summer, they are reportedly looking to make a statement signing, similar to their city rivals, Al Nassr. Should the move materialize, it would put Messi in direct competition with Ronaldo again, which could make Saudi Arabia a top destination for football fans.
Messi is scheduled to visit the country this month, not for official football business, but rather as a brand ambassador for the Saudi Tourist Board.
