Lionel Messi snubbed an eye-watering offer from Al-Hilal to join Inter Miami, according to the Saudi Pro League club’s president.
Messi was being chased by several clubs after his contract with Paris Saint-Germain ran out in June 2023.
Although the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner was also linked with a return to Barcelona, he opted to continue his contract in Major League Soccer, MLS.
Al-Hilal president Anmar Al Haili has now revealed just how much money his club was willing to offer Messi to join rival Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia.
Al Haili told NIBC: “We actually contacted Messi at the end of his contract in Paris. We presented him with an offer of €1.4 billion, but the player refused because his family wanted America.
“It is surprising that the player was able to refuse such a huge offer for the sake of his family. He managed to convince his family, but he did not hesitate to refuse. We respect this because family is more important than money.”
Transfer: Why Messi snubbed €1.4bn offer from Saudi Arabian club revealed