In a surprising revelation, Super Eagles star Odion Ighalo has shed light on the circumstances surrounding his departure from Al Hilal, attributing the non-renewal of his contract to the club’s pursuit of Argentine superstar Lionel Messi.
Ighalo, who emerged as Al Hilal’s top scorer for the season, was taken aback by Messi’s decision to join Major League Soccer (MLS) club Inter Miami, despite a lucrative offer from the Saudi Arabian club.
The news of Odion Ighalo’s contract not being renewed by Al Hilal surprised many considering his achievement with the team.
The Nigerian forward, who excelled as the club’s top scorer, disclosed in an exclusive interview with sports journalist Oma Akatugba the unexpected reason behind his departure.
According to Ighalo, Al Hilal’s pursuit of Lionel Messi played a significant role in the management’s decision to part ways with him.
Expressing his astonishment, Ighalo stated;
“I’m shocked Messi didn’t go to Saudi Arabia because it was part of the reasons my contract was not being extended [with Al Hilal]. I thought it was a done deal.”
The former Manchester United star seemed convinced that Messi’s arrival would have impacted his own future at the club, as the management sought to allocate significant resources to secure the Argentine maestro’s services.
The Saudi Arabian club reportedly submitted a colossal offer to Lionel Messi, hoping to lure him away from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).
However, to Al Hilal’s disappointment, Messi opted to embark on a new chapter in his career by joining Inter Miami in the United States.
Ighalo admitted his surprise at Messi’s decision, particularly considering the staggering financial terms associated with the Saudi offer.
“The money they were offering him in Saudi [Arabia] was crazy. He was going to earn twice what Ronaldo was earning. I was shocked he didn’t go there. He chose Miami,” Ighalo revealed.
The Nigerian forward emphasized the magnitude of the offer made to Messi, underscoring the immense financial rewards the Argentine would have received.
The potential move to Saudi Arabia could have seen Messi become one of the highest-paid athletes globally, surpassing even his long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo.
Meanwhile, Ighalo is still hopeful of landing a better and lucrative deal in the Saudi Pro League.
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