Lionel Messi has made a significant admission about Saudi Arabian football after choosing to join Inter Miami earlier this year instead of current Saudi Pro League leaders Al Hilal.
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Speaking in a recent interview, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner acknowledged that he did consider following Cristiano Ronaldo to the Middle East after leaving Paris Saint-Germain.
The 36-year-old penned a deal with David Beckham's Inter Miami in July after initially being strongly linked with a return to boyhood club Barcelona, who ultimately, according to comments the Argentine made following his move to the United States, did not formally offer him a contract.
Speaking to TIME this week, though, Messi admitted that taking his career to Saudi Arabia was something genuinely considered given his relationship with the country's tourism board.
"The truth is that fortunately, I had several options on the table that were interesting, and I had to analyse them and think, even weigh them up with my family, before making the final decision to come to Miami," he said.
"My first option was to return to Barcelona, but it was not possible. I tried to return, and it did not happen.
"It is also true that later I was thinking a lot about going to the Saudi league, where I know the country and they have created a very powerful competition that can become an important league in the near future.
"As the country's tourism ambassador, it was a destination that attracted me, especially because I've enjoyed everything I have visited, because of how football is growing in the country and because of the effort they are putting into creating a top competition."
Messi has scored 11 goals and assisted a further five strikes in 14 appearances for the Herons since his arrival in the US.
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The Argentine also claimed the Leagues Cup in his debut campaign with the side.
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