'Lionel Messi rejected a €1.4 billion offer' - Al-Hilal president

Cameron Smith

16 Jun 2024 21:15 BST
3 min read

Lionel Messi, Inter Miami, 2024 — © IMAGO

Al-Hilal president Anmar Al Haili has revealed that Lionel Messi rejected a €1.4 billion offer from the Saudi Pro League club last summer.

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Messi, 36, left Paris Saint-Germain upon the expiration of his contract in 2023, and he opted to join MLS side Inter Miami, despite heavy interest from Al-Hilal.

Al Haili told NIBC (via GOAL): “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.

“He managed to convince his family, but he did not hesitate to refuse. We respect this, because family is more important than money.”

While Messi rejected the chance to join Al-Hilal ahead of the 2023-24 season, the Saudi Arabian club were able to sign Neymar, Malcom, Ruben Neves, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Renan Lodi, Kalidou Koulibaly, Bono and Hassan Tambakti for a combined €376.1 million.

Lionel Messi to re-join Newell’s Old Boys

Messi has constantly been linked with a return to Newell’s Old Boys, but the Barcelona legend has insisted that a dream return to Argentina will not happen.

“Inter Miami will be my last club, yes. As of today, it’s going to be my last one. I love playing football, I enjoy everything much more because I am aware that there is less and less time.”

Messi’s Inter Miami contract runs until the end of 2025 and he could retire from football when his current deal ends.

The Argentina international has 25 goals and 16 assists in 29 appearances for the David Beckham-owned club following his free transfer move last summer. He helped them win the Leagues Cup just weeks after arriving.