Al-Nassr: Saudi Arabia football chief speaks on Messi’s arrival to revive Ronaldo rivalry

Africa-Press – Ethiopia. Saudi Arabia football chief, Ibrahim Alkassim, has dismissed reports that Paris Saint-Germain superstar Lionel Messi is set to move to the country to revive his eternal rivalry with Al-Nassr’s new signing Cristiano Ronaldo.

Messi’s contract at PSG will expire at the end of the season.

There has naturally been huge interest in Messi’s services across the globe for the Argentina captain.

A sensational return to Barcelona has been talked up, while former Real Madrid and Manchester United star David Beckham wanted to bring the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner to Inter Miami.

Saudi Arabia sides Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal have also been linked with a move to sign Messi.

There were even reports that the 35-year-old had an incredible £245million-a-year deal to sign for Al-Hilal, a contract that would dwarf Ronaldo’s £173m-a-year.

However, speaking on the development, Alkassim told Marca: “At the moment, we do not know anything about a possible Lionel Messi arrival.

“Although I don’t hide that, as the Saudi Federation, we would like to have him one day in the domestic league.

“The idea of the Federation is always to improve our football, and of course, we would like to see Cristiano and Messi in the same league again, but the truth is that we don’t know anything now.”

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