Al Ittihad Football Club, the second-placed team in Saudi Arabia’s pro league, proposed $94 million annually to Lionel Messi according to reports from Marca and The Sun newspapers.
Messi’s contract with PSG ends in the summer, and he will become a free agent if he chooses to leave. While PSG intends to keep him, Messi may decide to make a final move before retiring. He has been linked with a return to Barcelona or a move to David Beckham’s Inter Miami team. However, negotiations may soon take place between Al Ittihad and Messi’s inner circle, as the club is reportedly interested in signing the football superstar.
This transfer would rekindle the fierce rivalry between Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who currently plays for Al Nassr of Riyadh, one of Al Ittihad’s top rivals in the league.
According to The Sun newspaper, although the proposed contract offer for Messi is reportedly lower than Ronaldo’s current deal, money is unlikely to be a deciding factor for the football legend, With a personal net worth exceeding $600 million and an impressive collection of 11 league titles, four Champions League titles, numerous cup trophies, and significant international victories such as the Olympics, FIFA World Cup, and Copa America, Messi can be considered to have achieved all there is to achieve in football. Therefore, rather than seeking more money or trophies, it is likely that a challenge would interest the 35-year-old towards the end of his career.
Facing off against a legendary opponent like Cristiano Ronaldo could provide such a challenge, and Al Ittihad seems prepared to offer the contract necessary to make it happen.
