Saudi club Al-Ittihad are eyeing up a swoop for Lionel Messi, though it is claimed the star would earn significantly less than Cristiano Ronaldo if he makes the move.
Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr midway through the season after his Manchester United contract was terminated by mutual agreement. The Portugal international is reported to be earning a huge £173m per year in the gulf state, and has already scored two hat-tricks for his new employers.
Messi signed a two-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain when he joined from Barcelona in 2021. While the Ligue 1 leaders are keen to extend his stay, he has been linked with a move to the United States or Argentina, with Saudi Arabia remaining a lucrative alternative.
According to Marca (via The Sun ), Al-Ittihad are prepared to offer Messi a two-year deal worth £78m per year. The title contenders, who sit two points behind Ronaldo's Al-Nassr after 18 games, are managed by former Tottenham and Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo.
Based in Jeddah, Al-Ittihad have won the Saudi Pro League eight times. However, their most recent title came all the way back in 2009 when Messi's compatriot Gabriel Calderon was in the dugout.
Their current squad includes two players with significant experience of English football, as well as a number of Saudi internationals. Captain and centre-back Ahmed Hegazi spent several years with West Bromwich Albion, while winger Helder Costa - who played under Nuno at Wolves - is on loan from Leeds.
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If Messi opts against a move to Al-Ittihad, MLS outfit Inter Miami could be another option. The Florida side have space in their squad for a big-name star after Gonzalo Higuain's retirement, and manager Phil Neville has admitted they would be interested in a swoop for the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner.
“I’m not going to deny [it and say] there isn’t truth in the speculation that we’re interested in Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets,” Neville told The Times in February. "Since I joined Miami, I think we’ve been linked with every single top player in world football.
"From Sergio Ramos, Dani Alves, Robert Lewandowski, Willian, Cesc Fabregas, Luis Suarez... all of them, you can rattle off. We’re always going to be linked with the best players in the world.
"We had Gonzalo Higuain and Blaise Matuidi. Now we’ve got the opportunity to bring in some new designated players [who fall outside the league’s salary cap] following their retirements.”
A return to Barcelona had also been touted as an option for Messi, but the financial situation at Camp Nou has cast doubt on this. Barca have been told they need to free up £178m from their budget before considering any new additions.
