A surprise new club has now reportedly entered the race for Paris Saint-Germain superstar Lionel Messi's signature.
The Argentine's future continues to be a hot topic, with his current contract in France just months away from its expiration date.
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Initially, reports suggested that the forward would renew his deal with the French giants.
Earlier this month, though, it was claimed that Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal will try to tempt the player into a move to the Middle East with a salary that could see him earn four times as much as Cristiano Ronaldo is getting at his new club Al Nassr.
With a bidding war seemingly set to take place, Marca has now reported that another Saudi Pro League side, Al Ittihad, are now the favourites to land the 35-year-old's signature.
It is said that a potential deal for the 2022 FIFA World Cup winner, who has already agreed to be an ambassador for the Gulf state's 2030 World Cup bid, is so costly that the Saudi Arabian government would have to offer financial assistance to seal the transfer.
According to Goal, Messi could earn as much as £310 million (R6.4 billion) at either Al Ittihad or Al Hilal over the duration of his time in Saudi Arabia.
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The Argentine's commercial appeal is still sky-high – his match shirt from his first game back in club football, a Ligue 1 tie against Angers, was recently sold at an auction for a bid of €22 006 (R407 419), with offers coming in from China, Spain, Japan and elsewhere for the prized jersey.
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