Saudi Arabia Rejected Loan Move for Lionel Messi, Says Top Football Official
While news of Lionel Messi potentially moving to Saudi Arabia in 2023 proved false—with the football legend ultimately joining Inter Miami in the US Major League Soccer (MLS)—a new report has surfaced regarding another proposed link between Messi and the Gulf nation.
The latest twist: the Argentine forward reportedly wanted to play for a Saudi club on loan, but the move was rejected by the Saudi government.
A top Saudi football official confirmed the situation to Agence France-Presse (AFP):
“Messi’s agent contacted the Saudi Pro League authorities about the possibility [of Messi playing in the Saudi League], but the Ministry of Sports rejected it.”
The Motivation: Fitness Ahead of the World Cup
Messi’s desire to play in Saudi Arabia was primarily driven by a need to maintain his fitness ahead of the World Cup.
The regular MLS season typically ends in October and does not resume until February of the new year. With the World Cup kicking off in June-July, the Argentine forward sought a short-term move to the Saudi League to stay match-ready during the MLS off-season.
Abdullah Hammad, CEO of Mahd Sports Academy, revealed details on a podcast:
“Inter Miami contacted us during the last Club World Cup. They proposed that since the Major League Soccer is closed for four months, Messi wanted to maintain his fitness by playing in the Saudi League during that period.”
Hammad stated that the proposal was forwarded to the Saudi Sports Minister, but no positive response was received. Regarding the rejection of Messi’s offer, Hammad said:
“The Minister clearly stated that the Saudi League will not serve as a preparatory stage for any other tournament. Saudi Arabia rejected Messi’s proposal.”
Drawing Parallels to David Beckham
Hammad noted that the proposal was similar to previous requests made to Saudi Arabia.
Such incidents have happened before. David Beckham played for the LA Galaxy. He went to AC Milan for a short stint before the 2010 World Cup,” Hammad said.
Beckham joined AC Milan on loan in 2009 and again the following year to maintain fitness ahead of major international tournaments.
Messi’s Recent Career Path
After spending nearly two decades at Barcelona, Messi moved to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in 2021. However, after two years, the environment at the Parisian club turned “toxic” for the Argentine forward.
A 2023 report by the New York Daily Times suggested that Messi had signed a deal to become a tourism ambassador for Saudi Arabia for over three years, which could have earned him €22.5 million (approximately BDT 266 crore). However, all speculation was proved wrong when Messi moved to the United States, where he has since won the 2023 Leagues Cup and the 2024 Supporters’ Shield with Inter Miami.
