Khaberni - Surprising details have emerged about the Saudi Al-Ittihad's attempt to sign Argentine star Lionel Messi, captain and striker of Inter Miami.
Anmar Al-Haili, the former president of Al-Ittihad Saudi Club and current gold member, revealed shocking details about the club’s attempts to sign Lionel Messi, emphasizing that money was never an obstacle to achieving this historic deal.
Al-Haili clarified that he was ready to offer Messi an exceptional contract that would grant him full freedom to determine his salary and contract duration, even if it extended for a lifetime, stressing that Al-Ittihad's desire to include the best player in football history transcended financial calculations.
The Spanish newspaper "Marca" relayed Al-Haili’s statements, where he said: "If Messi had agreed to sign with Al-Ittihad, I would have offered him a contract where he could choose the amount he wanted and the duration that suits him, even if it was for a lifetime."
Al-Haili revealed that Al-Ittihad had made a huge offer worth 1.4 billion euros after Messi left Paris Saint-Germain in 2023, yet the Argentine player preferred to decline the offer for family reasons, despite being fully convinced of its financial value.
He added: "Messi declined the offer out of consideration for his family, and I respect this decision a lot. The doors of Al-Ittihad Club will always remain open for him, and he can join us at any time."
Al-Ittihad’s hopes to contract Messi are currently postponed, especially after the player, aged 38, renewed his contract with Inter Miami in October 2025, to continue with the American club until December 2028.
In conclusion, Al-Haili affirmed: "Having Messi here wearing the Al-Ittihad jersey means nothing economically to me. We would celebrate the league before it would start, just because we would have the greatest player in the history of football."
