Ammar Al-Khairi, president of Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad, is obsessed with signing Lionel Messi (he offered Messi an annual salary of 400 million euros in 2023).
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If Messi accepts the deal with Al Ittihad, he will be offered a contract where he can earn as much as he wants, as much as he wants, even for life.
Saudi officials have reiterated that money is not a barrier to seeing Messi in the yellow and black, insisting that Messi can personally choose his salary and contract length, saying: “If Messi agrees to a contract with Al Ittihad, I will offer him a contract where he can earn as much as he wants, as much as he wants, even for life.”
I offered Messi 1.4 billion euros, but despite his conviction he turned down such a high offer for the sake of his family
Coach Ammar Al-Khairi admitted his past contacts aimed at signing Messi, who decided to continue his career at Inter Miami after leaving PSG in 2023: “Yes, I previously contacted him when his contract with PSG ended. I offered him 1.4 billion euros. He refused such a big offer despite convincing his family. But he didn’t hesitate because family is more important than money. I respect him and Al-Ittihad will always open their door. ”
“Having Messi at Al Ittihad makes no economic sense.”
Everything indicates that Al Ittihad and the Saudi Pro League will have to wait, as in October 2025 Lionel Messi (38) renewed his contract with Inter Miami until December 2028.
“It means nothing to me financially that Messi is wearing our shirt here in Saudi Arabia. We were celebrating even before the league started, because we are hosting the greatest player in the history of football,” Ammar Al-Khairi said in a statement reprinted by Purely Football and TNT Sports.
