CORNERFLICK
Lionel Messi rejected a series of huge offers from Al-Ittihad before joining Inter Miami, according to the Saudi club’s president.
Massive bids turned down
The Al-Ittihad chief claimed the club, with backing from Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, made several attempts to sign Messi after his Paris Saint-Germain spell ended. He said the first offer was worth $500 million and was quickly refused.
He added that the figure was then raised to €800 million, but Messi still said no. A final offer of €1.5 billion was also allegedly placed on the table, only for the Argentina captain to reject it without hesitation.
Family choice over money
The president said what surprised him most was Messi’s lack of doubt. He suggested the forward could have been persuaded by his family, but chose them over the money instead.
Messi opted for Inter Miami in the summer of 2023 rather than a move to Saudi Arabia. He has repeatedly said the main reasons were lifestyle, family peace and a desire to continue living in the United States.