Lifestyle
4.6.2023
Lionel Messi receives titanic offer from Saudi club Al-Hilal
Argentinian soccer superstar Lionel Messi has reportedly been offered a staggering $440 million deal to join a club in Saudi Arabia, according to multiple sources. The lucrative deal would make him the highest-paid athlete in the world, eclipsing his previous contracts with FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.
Saudi Arabia bets big on football
The 35-year-old player, widely regarded as one of the greatest soccer players of all time, has been approached by Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal FC, say insiders. The deal would reportedly be for a three-year contract, with an annual salary of $146.7 million, adding up to a total of $440 million.
Al-Hilal FC, a prominent team in the Saudi Pro League, is backed by Saudi investors who have invested in the sport in recent years. They are the rival team of Al-Nassr FC, where Portuguese international Cristiano Ronaldo currently plays. This stratospheric offer is part of their efforts to attract international stars and improve the status of soccer in the kingdom.
If Messi accepts the deal, it would represent a major coup for Saudi Arabia, whose league is not typically considered among the elite European soccer leagues. The move would also likely generate considerable revenue through merchandising and broadcasting rights, as fans around the world tune in to watch Messi play.
Al Hilal have offered Lionel Messi a contract that would pay him £350m per year 🤑 pic.twitter.com/BzvNog1x7b
— GOAL (@goal) April 4, 2023
Uncertainty for the end of Messi’s career.
However, there is no guarantee that Messi will accept the offer. At this stage in his career, the Argentine may prioritize legacy and on-field success over financial gain. Additionally, he has previously expressed a desire to return to his boyhood club, Newell’s Old Boys, in Argentina before retiring. Regardless of Messi’s decision, the offer has already made headlines and stirred up considerable interest in the Saudi Pro League.
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