Saudis `Increase` Messi`s Mega-Money Contract Offer

A LaLiga TV executive has claimed that Saudi Arabia have upped their offer on what was already a world-record football contract for Lionel Messi.

Barcelona have made it known that their intention in the upcoming transfer window is to re-sign club legend Messi. The Argentine left the team in 2021 after their financial situation made it impossible for them to register him, and now club president Joan Laporta is seemingly exhausting every possibility in an effort to bring the 35-year-old back to the Camp Nou.

Jaume Roures, head of Mediapro which holds the broadcasting rights for LaLiga, told Cadena SER as much when he was quizzed about the Blaugrana's ambition to facilitate the 2022 FIFA World Cup Golden Boot winner's return to Catalonia. He insisted that "all means are being used to make it so".

However, the 73-year-old added that the newly-anointed Spanish champions will be going up against a mammoth offer from the Saudi Pro League.

It was reported that a club in the Middle East had presented the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner a contract worth €400 million (R8.4 billion) a year, but Roures has claimed that the proposal from the Gulf has now been upped to a gigantic €500 million (R10.5 billion) a season.

Cristiano Ronaldo currently has the biggest deal in football history after he signed with Al Nassr for a record €200 million (R4.2 billion) a year, but the abovementioned offer would blow that record out of the water if Messi were to sign the deal in Saudi Arabia.

Earlier this week, it was reported that Barca would only be offering the Rosario native €25 million (R525 million) a year to re-sign with them, but the Catalan giants were perhaps never likely to rely on money to lure him back to the club.

Irrespective of the stark financial difference, the Spanish outfit will still need to get the green light from LaLiga to sign the Argentina international.

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