Al-Hilal president Anmar Al Haili has shared how much Lionel Messi was offered to join the Saudi Arabian club before signing for Inter Miami.
The Argentine international made headlines last summer after snubbing a huge contract from the Middle Eastern nation to instead head to the United States to join the Herons, where Messi has impressed.
Inter Miami currently sit top of the MLS Supporters’ Shield standings with Messi currently away at the Copa America, where the forward is expected to play a huge role for the Florida franchise when he returns later this summer.
And it appears that Messi was always set on joining Inter Miami over a move to Saudi Arabia.
Messi rejected billion dollar offer from Saudi Arabia to join Inter Miami
Speaking to NIBC via Goal, Al-Hilal president Al Haili revealed that Messi turned down an offer worth an incredible $1.5bn to join the Saudi Arabian side, easily the biggest contract ever offered in the history of sports.
With Messi already one of the highest-paid athletes on the planet, it’s clear that the 36-year-old is at a stage in his career where his family is front and center in terms of importance, with life in Florida easily more comfortable than out in Saudi Arabia.
Al Haili said about Al-Hilal’s approach to sign Messi: “We actually contacted Messi at the end of his contract in Paris. We presented him with an offer of €1.4bn ($1.5bn), 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.”
Messi choosing MLS over Saudi Arabia shows how much pull the league has
MLS and Saudi Arabia have emerged in the last 12 months as unlikely rivals in the quest to become the biggest soccer league outside of Europe, with the two divisions spearheaded by old rivals Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
And the Argentine choosing MLS and Inter Miami shows just how much pull the league has and how much potential soccer in the United States have if all the right steps are taken in the years to come.
Indeed, Messi has the potential to transform MLS into one of the best leagues in the world if certain rule changes are made, and the forward loving life in the United States will be an appealing factor to players when weighing up a move to America.