The likelihood of Lionel Messi leaving Inter Miami is increasing after his contract expires at the end of the current football season in the United States, and it appears that Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal has become a strong possibility for the Argentine star.
For weeks, Argentine media outlets have confirmed that renewal negotiations between Messi and Inter Miami are currently stalled, and that the 37-year-old’s departure from the American club is no longer as unlikely as it was at the beginning of the year.
Some Saudi media outlets previously reported that Al-Ahly, in particular, was the club most interested in signing Messi, and now Al-Hilal is emerging as a potential destination for the Barcelona legend.
Renewal negotiations between Messi and Inter Miami have stalled… Will he return to Barcelona?
Messi’s Father to Meet with Al-Hilal President
Al-Youm newspaper reported that Al-Hilal President Fahd bin Nafel will meet with Jorge Messi in the next few days, on the sidelines of the Saudi official’s visit to the United States to support his team in the 2025 Club World Cup.
This meeting will include discussing the idea of Messi’s transfer to Al-Hilal once his contract with Inter Miami expires next December, with an attempt to reach an agreement on a fee expected to make the player one of the highest-paid players in football history.
These negotiations will not be the first of their kind between Messi’s father and Al-Hilal officials. They previously occurred in 2023, before the Argentine decided to try out for Inter Miami due to his desire to live in the United States with his family.
Exclusive sources have revealed that Al Hilal president Fahad bin Nafel is expected to meet with Lionel Messi’s father and agent to discuss the possibility of the Argentine star joining the club during the current summer transfer window.
Sources close to the club say the meeting… pic.twitter.com/sTFE6YKztq
— ME24 – Middle East 24 (@MiddleEast_24) June 24, 2025
Uncertainty over Messi’s position on renewing with Inter Miami
On every possible occasion, Messi has expressed his satisfaction with his career with Inter Miami, while the American club’s owners are strongly committed to him, but at the same time, they are not pressuring him to renew his contract.
David Beckham and his partners want Messi to lead Inter Miami when their stadium opens in less than a year. The revenues the player has brought to the club, along with the sporting benefits, are incalculable.
There is uncertainty surrounding Messi’s position. Some reports suggest he wants to try something else before the end of his career, whether by returning to Barcelona or trying Saudi Arabia. Other reports suggest he has no intention of leaving Miami for personal reasons related to his family’s ability to fully adapt there.
In any case, the Saudi League will remain open to Messi at any moment he decides to leave Inter Miami. Roshen League officials are reportedly willing to offer him a salary similar to, if not greater than, Cristiano Ronaldo’s €180 million annual salary.
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Messi’s Challenges Force Him to Leave Inter Miami
Although Messi has achieved almost everything in his career, there are some challenges that motivate him, the most prominent of which is currently participating in the 2026 World Cup with the Argentine national team.
The US sports season technically ends in October, meaning Messi will be away from football from October until the start of the new season in March. Thus, the option of leaving for another club to prepare becomes clear.
It has been reported that Inter Miami may consider loaning Messi to Barcelona for a few months, then returning with the start of the American season. However, the player’s poor relationship with Joan Laporta’s management makes the chances of this happening slim, if not nonexistent.
In this regard, the idea of moving to the Saudi League would be beneficial for Messi. On the one hand, it would guarantee him participation at a strong competitive level by all standards, and during the normal season, which would prepare him for excellent physical and technical condition before the 2026 World Cup begins in June.
