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Saudi League Director Promises To Sign Lionel Messi ‘Immediately’ After Last Year’s Rejection, but on One Condition

Published 12/19/2023, 8:22 AM EST

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USA Today via Reuters

Lionel Messi to Saudi Arabia speculations have re-emerged from the woods. This time, the Saudi League director expressed his desire to sign the Argentine maestro. Despite facing rejection in the past, the director remains determined to bring Messi to Saudi Arabia, but there is one crucial condition that can only be fulfilled by the player himself.

The buzz around Messi’s potential move to Saudi Arabia first emerged when he left Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). At that time, Saudi side Al Hilal made an audacious offer of a staggering $1 billion per year. However, the 36-year-old ultimately chose to join Inter Miami, leaving the Saudi side disappointed.

Saudi League director willing to sign Lionel Messi again

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Michael Emenalo, the Sports Director of the Saudi Pro League, recently sat down for an interview to discuss the possibility of signing LA Pulga in the future. In his statement, he made it clear that “If Messi still has the ambition to play in Saudi Arabia, we will sign him immediately.”

Emenalo’s openness to the idea reflects the Saudi League’s unwavering determination to acquire the services of the legendary forward. It is also evident that the Saudis do not wish to repeat the disappointment of the previous transfer window, where they had a private jet waiting at the airport in Paris, equipped with a billion-dollar offer for Messi.

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However, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner turned down the lucrative proposal, opting to sign with the MLS side. This decision poses further challenges for the Saudi side, as his contract with Inter Miami is set to expire in 2025. However, if Lionel Messi expresses his desire for the move, anything can happen. Regarding the forward himself, he also recently left doors open for a move to Saudi Arabia.

Messi’s thoughts on the Al Hilal offer

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Following Time Magazine’s recognition of Lionel Messi as the Athlete of the Year, he sat down in an interview with the popular publication. Here he discussed his contemplation of joining Al Hilal and expressed his admiration for Saudi Arabia.

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The Argentine acknowledged that “It was a destination that attracted me, especially because I’ve enjoyed everything I have visited, because of how football is growing in the country and because of the effort they are putting into creating a top competition.” It is evident that the soccer legend had a genuine interest in the proposal from Saudi Arabia, leaving room for future possibilities. Considering this, the likelihood of Lionel Messi joining the Saudi Pro League becomes even more compelling.

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Written by:

Saransh Chauhan

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My name is Saransh Chauhan and I am an experienced soccer writer at EssentiallySports. With over a year of experience at EssentiallySports, I have covered various aspects of the magnificent sport. While I strive to provide comprehensive coverage of core sports topics, I also explore off-court and entertainment subjects.
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Edited by:

Jayant Chhabra