Lionel Messi is witnessing the outpouring of love from the fans in his latest stint with Inter Miami. The Argentinian has notched up pretty good performances since joining the Major League Soccer (MLS) club in July 2023.
In the 13 occasions when Lionel Messi has taken the field for Inter Miami this season, he has bagged 11 goals. The veteran has topped it off with five assists as well. The 36-year-old aided his side in clinching the League Cup and also elevated them to the U.S. Open Cup finals.
However, certain rumors emerged linking the Argentinian to a loan move to Saudi. The reports were fueled by Messi’s club Inter Miami’s failure to make the MLS play-offs this season. However, a recent report suggests it would be tough for any Saudi club to obtain the services of Messi.
The report states that – Saudi dealmakers are whitewashing any probability of a short-term loan deal for Leo. Reports say, there is close to no window of suitable chance pertaining to any Saudi club to pen down the veteran.
Their hopes of any loan deal might be a lost cause mainly because Inter Miami would want to have their player back in the last part of January or at the start of February for pre-season.
Saudi dealmakers are downplaying any chance of a short-term loan for Lionel Messi. There really isn’t a window of opportunity allowing a Saudi club to sign Messi given Inter Miami would want him back for pre-season in late January or early February.
— @JacobsBen pic.twitter.com/bRvbynwNVp
— Barça Universal (@BarcaUniversal) October 11, 2023
Leo has performed consistently for Inter Miami and his importance to the club is massive. Even if there would have been a time frame for the Saudis to act and to make an offer for the veteran to Inter Miami, one can’t really say, that the MLS side would have preferred to let go their star player. Let alone a loan deal initiative seems quite fickle.
Argentina’s number ten missed some of the games for his club due to injury. His absence played a huge part in Inter Miami’s recent bad results. Despite the injury scares, Leo has been called up to take part in his country’s World Cup qualifier games.
Saudi Pro League club that went all in for Lionel Messi before his move to Inter Miami
As per the reports, Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal made an apprehensive effort to land the Argentinian. Their effort presided close to the end of the last transfer window. With the arrival of some of the superstars of the soccer world in the Saudi League, their attempt to obtain the services of another legend seemed feasible.
The club went all in for the 36-year-old player. According to the reports, a huge money offer was put on the table for acquiring Leo’s services. The proposal was termed to be in the range of $1.6 billion. The money was certainly a last-ditch attempt to get hold of Argentina’s number ten.
However, any sort of agreement couldn’t materialize. The Argentinian chose the MLS side Inter Miami over any other reported proffers. But, one can’t possibly rule out another attempt by the Saudi side to land the player’s services. As of now, it remains to be seen, if any further approaches will be made by them for Leo in the near future.