The billion-dollar "blank check": Al-Ittihad launched a galactic raid to lure Lionel Messi to Saudi Arabia
Saudi team were reportedly the club that inquired about the Argentine star’s conditions, an offer that the player ultimately turned down.
The Saudi Pro League is currently a whirlwind of drama and high-stakes maneuvers. While the league braces for the fallout of a potential four-match ban hanging over Cristiano Ronaldo, a different name is once again shaking the foundations of Middle Eastern football. After months of relative silence regarding his future, Lionel Messi has been thrust back into the spotlight as the ultimate target for Al-Ittihad. The Jeddah-based giants are reportedly preparing an offer that defies all known financial logic to make the Argentine icon the face of their revolution.
The man spearheading this "Mission: Impossible" is Anmar Al Haili, the president of Al-Ittihad. Al Haili has made it clear that this is no longer a simple sports transfer; it is a quest to secure the ultimate figurehead for the Saudi football project. The dirigente is reportedly ready to do something unprecedented in the history of the sport: hand the "GOAT" a blank check.
The "Lifetime" Contract: Beyond the Billions
Al Haili has been vocal about the fact that money is no obstacle in this pursuit. According to internal reports, if Messi were to accept the proposal, he would have total autonomy to set his own salary and the duration of his stay. The club is even floating the idea of a "lifetime bond," a contract that would see Messi transition from a player to a global ambassador for the club and the country once he decides to hang up his boots.
"The money doesn't matter to me; I want Messi because he is the best player in history," Al Haili stated. This declaration elevates the bidding war to a level that no European or American club could hope to match, turning the potential signing into a matter of national prestige rather than just club athletics.
A Rivalry Renewed: The Ronaldo Factor
The timing of this renewed interest in Messi is far from coincidental. Currently, Al-Nassr—the home of Cristiano Ronaldo—is facing a delicate period. With a looming four-match suspension for the Portuguese star, Al-Nassr could be forced to play critical fixtures against Al Shabab and Al Taawon without their captain.
The potential absence of Ronaldo has created a "power vacuum" in terms of global media attention. By pursuing Messi now, Al-Ittihad aims to tilt the scales of power in the Saudi Pro League, potentially reuniting the two greatest players of their generation on the same pitch for one final "Last Dance" in the desert.
History Repeating Itself? From Miami to Jeddah
This is not the first time the Saudi hierarchy has knocked on Messi’s door. Following his departure from PSG, Al-Ittihad reportedly launched a staggering offer of nearly €1.4 billion ($1.52B) per year. At that time, Messi chose to prioritize his family and the burgeoning project at Inter Miami in the United States.
However, the 2026 landscape is different. Having already conquered the MLS and fulfilled his initial commitments in North America, the allure of a final, astronomical payday in a league that is now more competitive than ever might be harder to ignore. Al Haili’s strategy has been one of "patient persistence." He famously told Messi, “It is a decision I respect, but you can come whenever you want.”
The Global Impact of the Move
If this deal were to materialize, it would represent more than just a transfer; it would be a seismic shift in the global football hierarchy. While Messi remains the heart of the Argentine National Team and the face of MLS, a move to Al-Ittihad would cement the Saudi Pro League as the definitive "retirement home" for legends—but with the intensity of a top-tier competition.
For Al-Ittihad, signing Messi would be the ultimate response to Al-Nassr’s acquisition of Ronaldo and Al-Hilal’s star-studded roster. It would turn the "Riyadh Derby" and the "Saudi Clásico" into the most-watched sporting events on the planet.
As the Saudi league navigates through controversies and sanctions, the dream of Messi remains the one constant that keeps fans on the edge of their seats. The obsession is alive, the check is signed, and the world is waiting to see if "The Flea" will finally take the leap to join his greatest rival in the sands of Saudi Arabia.
