In agreeing a deal to join Saudi side Al-Nassr, former Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo became the best-paid player in the history of the game.
Over the course of a two-and-a-half-year deal, Ronaldo will reportedly earn £175m per season when his wages and commercial deals are combined. It has also been claimed his pay packet could rise if he supports Saudi Arabia's bid to host the World Cup, something his club deny.
According to reports, Al-Nassr were not the Middle East club interested in Ronaldo. Al Hilal were also said to be competing for his signing before the 37-year-old ultimately decided to move to their rivals.
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But Al Hilal may have their revenge in the form of Ronaldo's long-term rival Lionel Messi. The Saudi Pro League side are reportedly readying a bid to try and tempt the World Cup winner to sign for them.
Messi has six months remaining on his current deal at Paris Saint-Germain, but recent reports have stated that his camp remain locked in talks with the French side to extend his contract until the end of the 2023/24 season.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Al Hilal are ready to offer Messi a huge contract that dwarfs the one Ronaldo signed to join their rivals. Their offer would be around £246m per season and it is claimed Messi's father Jorge - who acts as the forward's agent - has travelled to discuss a deal.
Ronaldo and Messi have been domestic rivals before of course when playing for Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively. Messi is continuing to weigh up his options and has also been linked with MLS side Inter Miami, who are owned by David Beckham.
Beckham's former Manchester United teammate Phil Neville is Miami's manager and was asked about the prospect of his side signing Messi in a press conference this week. "For us, the landscape’s not changed at all," he said. "With any deal for any DP [designated player] of the level you’re talking about is complicated, it takes time. Rest assured we’re working every second of every day to bring in the best players, and I think he’s [Messi] one of the best.“
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