‘Give Eguavoen the Nigeria permanent job, Napoli will regret their actions on Osimhen’ 

England's post-Kane era finally looks far more rosy

Bet9ja Promotion Code B9GOAL in November 2024: Get 170% Multiple Boost

Santos, Doak & eight best Premier League loanees of the season

How it feels to beat Lionel Messi

Nigeria qualify for 2025 Afcon but Nwabali loses his father 

Why Ronaldo has been released from the Portugal squad

Ronaldo stunner the cherry on top for five-star Portugal 

Amorim insists youth is no excuse for Mainoo and Co

Amorim told he's already made his first mistake at Man Utd

CR7 tops ex-Real Madrid team-mate to set international record

Vini's nightmare goes on as Brazil drop more WCQ points

Where's Leo?! Messi invisible as Argentina upset by Paraguay

Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Messi in Middle East before Miami move</li><li>Gargantuan offer made to Argentine star</li><li>Messi rejected move for family reasons</li></ul>

Revealed: The unbelievable figure Lionel Messi was offered to move to Saudi Pro League before Argentina hero signed for Inter Miami

Messi was targeted by the <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/exclusive-lionel-messi-asks-delay-al-hilal-move-until-2024-he-angles-barcelona-return/bltc13392dc79254d9d" target="_blank">Saudi Pro League </a>after <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/news/christophe-galtier-confirms-lionel-messi-will-leave-psg/blt5f75299cc67b2c1e" target="_blank">Paris Saint-Germain confirmed the Argentina international</a> was set to leave the club when his contract expired in 2023. Former club Barcelona were also linked with a move for Messi before he finally opted for a new challenge in Major League Soccer with Inter Miami.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Saudi Pro League clubs have managed to snap up a host of huge names in recent years including superstars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Karim Benzema. Messi was also wanted in the Middle East with Al-Ittihad president Anmar Al Haili revealing just how much money his club were willing to offer the Argentine to move to Saudi Arabia.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Al Haili told NIBC: "We actually contacted Messi at the end of his contract in Paris. We presented him with an offer of €1.4 billion, but the player refused because his family wanted America. It is surprising that the player was able to refuse such a huge offer for the sake of his family. He managed to convince his family, but he did not hesitate to refuse. We respect this, because family is more important than money."

WHAT HAS BEEN SAID

Messi has gone on to thrive in MLS, winning the Leagues Cup and helping fire Miami to the top of the current Eastern Conference standings. The <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/lionel-messi-drops-huge-retirement-hint-inter-miami-superstar-admits-fears-football-career-coming-to-end/blt440a3f2a34b809c2" target="_blank">Argentina star has also admitted recently he expects Inter Miami to be his last club</a> before he finally opts to hang up his boots. Meanwhile, Saudi teams continue to target top stars, with players such as Mohamed Salah, <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/kevin-de-bruyne-drops-saudi-arabia-transfer-bombshell-man-city-star-wife-michele-open-exotic-adventure/blt6c048e61e91b4fa2" target="_blank">Kevin De Bruyne</a> and Virgil van Dijk emerging as new targets for big-spending clubs.

WHAT NEXT FOR MESSI

Revealed: The unbelievable figure Lionel Messi was offered to move to Saudi Pro League before Argentina hero signed for Inter Miami | Goal.com Nigeria

Lionel Messi turned down an enormous Saudi offer in favour of joining Inter Miami after leaving Paris Saint-Germain in 2023.