The history of the transfer window is made up of many aborted transfers. Last summer, it was once again a close call for a real earthquake to shake the football world. At the end of his contract with PSG, after two mixed seasons in the capital, Lionel Messi found himself at the heart of a standoff between Inter Miami, where he finally signed, and Al-Hilal, who were ready to bet big to convince him to join Saudi Arabia.
According to Fox Sports Argentina, the Riyadh-based club made the Argentine striker (37) an offer he couldn’t refuse, which he ultimately declined. The offer included a salary of 15 to 20 million euros per… week. In addition to this colossal income, there were various bonuses that, overall, would have allowed the 2022 world champion to earn between 900 million and one billion euros per year. Mind-blowing!
Messi could have earned a billion euros!
This transfer would certainly have had huge repercussions on the Saudi Pro League. Imagine. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner could then have continued to play alongside his friend Neymar Jr, recruited by Al-Hilal in August 2023 for some 90 million euros. The former FC Barcelona idol could also have found in the Middle East his former Real Madrid rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, who has been playing for Al-Nassr for a year and a half.
Questioned in June by the NIBC channel, Anmar Al Haili, the president of Al-Hilal, confirmed this astronomical offer, even announcing that it peaked at 1.4 billion euros.
“But the player refused because his family wanted Americathe leader explained. We respect that, because family is more important than money.”
And “La Pulga” therefore preferred to continue his career in the United States, in the team owned by David Beckham.
