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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 was offered deal from Saudi Arabia</li><li>Opted to join Inter Miami instead</li><li>Argentine still welcome at Saudi Pro League</li></ul>

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo together at last? Saudi Pro League would be ‘very happy to welcome’ Inter Miami forward as sporting director makes bold ‘superstar’ claim

Saudi Pro League

Al Nassr FC

Al Qadasiya

Messi was linked with a move to Saudi Arabia and recently <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/inter-miami-superstar-lionel-messi-admits-attracted-joining-cristiano-ronaldo-saudi-pro-league-before-transfer-mls/blt2b85962808b606c8" target="_blank">admitted he considered the offer</a> before he decided to head to MLS in July, signing for Inter Miami. The 36-year-old appears happy in the United States after his first few months in the country, but Emenalo says the Pro League would be happy to snap him up.

WHAT HAPPENED?

"The reasons that he ended up in MLS is something that I don’t have answers to," Emenalo was quoted as saying by <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/dec/07/saudi-pro-league-would-be-very-happy-to-welcome-messi-says-emenalo" target="_blank">The Guardian</a>. "If he decides next season that he wants to come here, we will be happy to welcome him. If he wants to stay in MLS, we will be very, very happy for him."On another potentially busy window in January, the former Chelsea technical director added: "The Saudi Pro League is open for business to any superstar that wants to come. If there is an indication that there is an opening and any of the superstars that you know and I know says: ‘We are interested in coming to this league,’ we will work very very hard to bring them in.”

WHAT MICHAEL EMENALO SAID

A move to the Middle East would see Messi unite with his former rival Cristiano Ronaldo, <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/cristiano-ronaldo-title-dream-al-nassr-unstoppable-al-hilal-saudi-pro-league/blt1769c417c0add5ca" target="_blank">who is hoping to fire Al-Nassr to the league title this season</a>. The Argentine sensation would also join the likes of ex-Barcelona team-mate Neymar, currently at Al-Hilal, and former Real Madrid hero Karim Benzema, who is now with Al-Ittihad.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Instead of heading to Saudi Arabia any time soon, however, Messi will instead <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/lionel-messi-reunite-luis-suarez-one-year-deal-inter-miami-mls-barcelona/blt11f49152bc01f287" target="_blank">reunite with his old co-star Luis Suarez at Inter Miami</a>. After missing out on the play-offs in 2023, the World Cup winner will aim to help his side reach the MLS play-offs in the 2024 campaign.

WHAT NEXT FOR MESSI?

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo together at last? Saudi Pro League would be ‘very happy to welcome’ Inter Miami forward as sporting director makes bold ‘superstar’ claim | Goal.com

Lionel Messi would be &quot;welcome&quot; in the Saudi Pro League should decide to leave Inter Miami in the near future, sporting director Michael Emenalo says.