Al-Hilal are set to offer Lionel Messi a mouth-watering contract worth up to £288million-a-year.
The 35-year-old has just under six months left on his current deal at Paris Saint-Germain and could be set to leave the Ligue 1 side this summer. Messi has scored an impressive 13 goals and chipped in with 14 assists in 20 appearances for PSG this season, having also scored seven times at the World Cup in Qatar.
It is understood Inter Miami are strongly interested in the former Barcelona man, with David Beckham eyeing up a move to take him across to the MLS. The ex-Manchester United midfielder has long touted the prospect of a superstar like Messi joining his MLS franchise, while Messi himself has admitted he would be keen to play in the US before his career comes to an end.
However, according to Mundo Deportivo, Saudi Arabian giants Al-Hilal are plotting a mega-money deal for Messi after Saudi Pro League rivals Al-Nassr completed the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo last month. The reported sum would see Messi overtake Ronaldo as the highest-paid player in the world.
Ronaldo signed a contract worth £173m-a-year at Al-Nassr on December 30 after his controversial exit from United, where he slammed the club, the Glazers and manager Erik ten Hag. The 37-year-old has battled it out with Messi for both individual and team honours over the past two decades and that could now continue in the Middle East.
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Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia is currently preparing a bid to host the 2030 World Cup alongside Greece and Egypt, and having two of the greatest footballers of all-time starring in their domestic league would swing heavily in their favour. Mundo has quoted two different figures by saying that Al-Hihal are ready to offer Messi £ 266m per year or up to £ 288m per annum as they look to secure the services of the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner.
It is also claimed that while the offer would be difficult to reject, it remains to be seen whether the Argentine would agree to move to a country with such different customs and such a complex climate in terms of temperatures. Messi lifted the World Cup in similar circumstances out in Qatar last month, having starred for Argentina as they lifted the trophy for the first time in 1986.
Al-Hilal currently sit third in the Saudi Pro League, three points behind Ronaldo's Al-Nassr at the top of the table, although Al-Za'eem have drawn three of their last four matches in all competitions. Former United striker Odion Ighalo is currently leading the line for Al-Hilal, while Luciano Vietto and Saudi Arabia World Cup star Salem Al-Dawsari are also part of their squad at the moment.
