{"id":293913,"date":"2023-10-11T16:26:06","date_gmt":"2023-10-11T16:26:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tellmysport.com\/?p=293913"},"modified":"2023-10-11T16:26:06","modified_gmt":"2023-10-11T16:26:06","slug":"messi-could-join-ronaldo-in-saudi-with-pro-league-plotting-loan-move","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tellmysport.com\/soccer\/messi-could-join-ronaldo-in-saudi-with-pro-league-plotting-loan-move\/","title":{"rendered":"Messi could join Ronaldo in Saudi with Pro League 'plotting loan move'"},"content":{"rendered":"
The iconic rivalry between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo\u00a0that dominated European soccer for the best part of a decade may be revived in the Middle East – with Saudi Arabian chiefs desperate to reunite the pair in the Pro League.<\/p>\n
After Inter Miami failed to qualify for the Major League Soccer\u00a0playoffs, Messi will not take the field again until February following the completion of the regular season – unless he secures a short-term loan elsewhere.<\/p>\n
And according to Sky Sports, via Marca, Saudi Pro League officials are set to launch an offer for Argentina’s World Cup-winning captain in the wake of Miami’s playoff heartbreak.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It is believed they are keen to lure him away from the MLS on a six-month loan, meaning he would be able to return to Inter in time for their 2024 campaign.<\/p>\n
Internal evaluations are understood to be ongoing, with news on a potential swoop for Messi expected to come soon.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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The iconic rivalry between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo may be revived in Saudi Arabia<\/p>\n
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The Saudi Pro League are said to be considering a loan offer for Messi after Inter Miami failed to qualify for the MLS playoffs<\/p>\n
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Old rival Ronaldo has spent the last 10 months in the Middle East after signing for Al-Nassr\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before his historic move to Miami, Messi turned down an eye-watering financial package to play in Saudi, which would have brought him at least $400million.<\/p>\n
Great rival Ronaldo opted to accept the country’s riches, putting pen to paper on a $200m-a-year contract with Pro League team Al-Nassr at the start of the year.<\/p>\n
Messi and Ronaldo enjoyed a historic battle on European shores during their respective stints with Barcelona and Real Madrid, with the pair maintaining a stranglehold on the illustrious Ballon d’Or award from 2008-18.<\/p>\n
Between them, the legendary duo have won nine Champions League titles while scoring close to 1,500 goals at club level.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And now Saudi have dreams of reigniting that iconic rivalry out in the Middle East.<\/p>\n
Back in 2009, Miami co-owner David Beckham made the kind of move Saudi are plotting for Messi when he was loaned from the LA Galaxy to AC Milan.<\/p>\n
Messi has also been linked with a loan move back to Barcelona as a result of Miami being unable to qualify for the postseason.<\/p>\n
Miami’s manager Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino recently tried to downplay the links of Messi returning to his former club on loan when he recently said to reporters: ‘Is he going for fun? Maybe he’s going to visit Barcelona? Other than that, I don’t know anything else about it.’<\/p>\n
Messi has scored 12 goals in the combined 13 league and cup matches he played since joining Miami on a two-and-a-half-year deal in July.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Messi, who is currently on international duty with Argentina, has also been linked with a return to former club Barcelona<\/p>\n
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Miami coach Tata Martino joked at the weekend that he could return to Spain ‘for fun’<\/p>\n
He has joi ned Argentina for 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Paraguay and Peru on October 12 and 17 respectively.\u00a0<\/p>\n
With Miami’s season ending soon, Argentina must figure out how to maintain Messi’s fitness for World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay on November 16 and at Brazil five days later.<\/p>\n
Miami’s remaining league matches will be a home and road set against Charlotte October 18 and 21.<\/p>\n