Lionel Messi could be about to join Cristiano Ronaldo after ‘huge’ offer
Saudi Pro League clubs are ready to step up their interest in Lionel Messi and re-ignite his rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo, sources have told Football Insider.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, senior correspondent Pete O’Rourke revealed what sources have told him about Messi’s potential exit from Inter Miami this summer.
The Saudi Pro League clubs plan to spend big this summer and a £70million move for Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli is already in the pipeline, but all bids to lure Messi to the Middle East have been unsuccessful.
Sources have told Football Insider that the Saudi Arabian PIF Fund – which owns Al-Ahli, Al-Ittihad, Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr – remains interested in Messi and want to make him a marquee signing for the league.
The Saudi Pro League’s “countless” attempts to sign Messi come in the wake Inter Miami’s dismal Club World Cup exit against PSG, with an eye on Messi and Ronaldo being reunited in the same competition once again.
Messi–Ronaldo rivalry to be re-ignited by Saudi Pro League
Ronaldo‘s future was also subject to speculation this summer after Al-Hilal lined up a move for him ahead of the Club World Cup, but the Saudi Pro League have turned their attention to bringing in Messi instead.
Speaking on the new Inside Track, O’Rourke said that while Messi’s form for Inter Miami remains strong as the MLS season continues, Saudi clubs will continue with their attempts to sign the 38-year-old.
“It’s no surprise that Saudi Pro League clubs are still interested in Lionel Messi”, he told Football Insider.
“They’ve made countless attempts to try and lure him to that league, and are offering him huge money.
“They want to get that marquee rivalry going again, between him and Cristiano Ronaldo, but he’s shown no signs of slowing down with Inter Miami in the MLS.”
Messi match-up unlikely for Ronaldo amid MLS growth
The Saudi Pro League is keen to shake off the assumption that players move there with both eyes on retirement, and potential moves for the likes of Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez are helping to remedy this.
The MLS has plenty of financial backing itself though and Football Insider revealed that Inter Miami had lined up a move for Kevin De Bruyne before his switch to Napoli, providing Messi with another world-class partner.
Ronaldo and Messi’s rivalry has defined world football for over two years, but the chances of the pair facing off in the Saudi Pro League during their twilight years are currently at very long odds.