Overview
- Club president Anmar Al Haili said he would hand Lionel Messi a blank check, allowing the player to set both salary and contract length.
- Al Haili reiterated that Al Ittihad offered about €1.4 billion in 2023 after Messi left PSG, a proposal he says was rejected for family reasons and a move to the United States.
- He claimed Messi’s entourage had been convinced during that 2023 approach, but that Messi personally declined, which the club chief said he respected.
- The president added that Al Ittihad would always keep the door open for Messi, with no indication that formal negotiations are underway now.
- The stance fits the Saudi Pro League’s ongoing pursuit of global stars, frequently referenced alongside Cristiano Ronaldo’s high-profile switch to Al Nassr.