Lionel Messi reportedly has another suitor from Saudi Arabia, Al-Ittihad, said to have joined Al-Hilal in the mad race for the World Cup winner.
Rumors began unfurling earlier this week that Al-Hilal were eager and willing to dish out £245m for the Argentine star, but Al-Ittihad are now also said to have shown interest in Messi as the league is looking to increase it’s star power following Cristiano Ronaldo’s move to Al Nassr.
Reports in Marca have also surfaced alleging both clubs are willing to pay Messi a huge ‘£306m’ per season, making pale in comparison the £175m his old rival Ronaldo earns.
The report goes on to say that both interested clubs are currently sanctioned by FIFA due to ‘irregularities’ and would not be able to sign Messi until the summer.
Marca also names players such as Luka Modric, Angel Di Maria, and Sergio Ramos as targets for the Saudi league.
Messi would be available in June as he will be out of contract with PSG by then although the 35-year-old is believed to have assured the club he will sign a contract extension.
Should the Argentine legend truly join Al-Hilal or Al-Ittihad, this could forebode the return of one of football’s most enthralling rivalries as clashes between Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal are considered Saudi’s equivalent of El Clasico, and seeing Messi and Ronaldo on opposite sides would only add extra spice to the occasion.
The legendary pair could also play against one another when PSG travel to Riyadh to take on an All-Star XI featuring players from Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal on January 19.
This could act as a dress rehearsal for future meetings between the iconic pair if Messi decides to end his time in Europe and take Al-Hilal’s lucrative offer.