😱Club chief turns down €1.4bn Messi offer, puts blank cheque on the table | OneFootball

Dreaming is free, but dreaming of Lionel Messi could cost a fortune for Al-Ittihad.

In an interview highlighted by the Spanish newspaper Marca this Wednesday (14th), the president of the Saudi club, Anmar Al Haili, brought to light the behind-the-scenes of a failed negotiation in 2023 and emphasized that the doors remain wide open for the Argentine star, with unprecedented financial conditions in world football.

Billionaire Rejection 🥵

The Saudi official confirmed that, at the time Messi was ending his stint with Paris Saint-Germain, the Saudi club put an astronomical offer on the table, which was promptly rejected by the Argentine.

According to Al Haili, the offer rejected by the star was around 1.4 billion euros – about R$ 8.34 billion.

According to the president, the refusal was not motivated by financial or sporting reasons, but rather by the player's personal principles.

Al Haili reported that, although he managed to convince the athlete's entourage, Messi's final decision was unwavering.

"I offered him 1.4 billion euros. He rejected such a high offer for the sake of his family, despite having convinced them," he explained. "However, he did not hesitate to refuse because family is more important than money. I respect him," he added.

Blank Check and Lifetime Contract

Far from giving up, Anmar Al Haili raised the stakes for the future.

The president of Al-Ittihad declared that he would be willing to offer a "blank check" to have the current MLS top scorer and 2025 Golden Boot winner in his team.

The new proposal would give Messi full control over the terms of the agreement: he could set his own salary and the duration of the contract.

The official went further, suggesting that the commitment could extend indefinitely.

"If Messi agrees to sign with Al-Ittihad, I would offer him a contract where he could earn as much as he wants, for as long as he wants, even for a lifetime," assured Al Haili. "Al-Ittihad will always welcome him back, he can come whenever he wants," concluded the official.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

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