Despite having only recently joined Inter Miami, Lionel Messi is reportedly set to be the subject of another massive bid from Saudi Arabia.
With Al Hilal, who are owned by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), having pursued Messi prior to his move to Inter Miami, it is said the wealthy club owners are set to reignite their efforts to bring the Argentine to the Saudi Pro League after being rejected by the 2022 FIFA World Cup winner in July.
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According to Saudi Arabian publication Al Bilad Daily, the PIF is set to initiate talks with the Florida club over the possibility of signing Messi on loan in the current 2023/24 campaign.
It is claimed talks between the two teams could get underway in the next few days, with the PIF's plan being for the 36-year-old to represent one of their four teams in the Saudi top flight, namely Al Ahli, Al Hilal, Al Nassr, and Al Ittihad.
The big-spending Saudis are believed to have already spent €540 million (R11.2 billion) on transfers so far in this window, with Neymar's recent move to Al Hilal from Paris Saint-Germain having commanded the highest transfer fee at €90 million (R1.8 billion).
Messi himself has shone since making the switch to the US, scoring nine goals in six games and leading his new team all the way to the Leagues Cup final, which will take place on Sunday.
Inter Miami's previous boss Phil Neville, meanwhile, has claimed that he knew he would not be in charge of the club for much longer following the Albiceleste captain's blockbuster arrival.
He told Taylor Twellman's Offside podcast: "I always had a feeling, deep down, I wasn't going to be here [in Miami] when he [Messi] was going to come to the club. And I say that not lacking confidence in myself but this was different, this was not signing Gonzalo Higuain or Blaise Matuidi.
"You look around the world, the way he has been at other clubs and there has always been certain managers that managed him. The bottom line for me was, forget Messi, the results weren't good enough the last month I was in the job and I knew that. That is the reason I left.
"When I look in the mirror in the morning and my friends or social media say 'it could have been you', well, no, it couldn't have. The results were not good enough. I knew the vision, I knew what the club wanted. I've been in football a long time and sometimes it is not meant to be. I am not bitter, twisted or angry."
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