Saudi Football Chief Finally Breaks Silence on Why Messi, Mbappe Rejected Moves to the Middle East

• Saudi League football director Michael Emenalo has opened up on Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe's moves
• Messi and Mbappe were approached by Saudi clubs this summer
• Despite the lucrative proposals, the former PSG teammates opted for different paths

Michael Emenalo, the Director of Football for the Saudi Pro League, has provided insight into why Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe declined offers to move to the Middle East.

Backed by the financial resources of the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), the Saudi top-flight league embarked on an ambitious mission to enhance its quality by recruiting top-tier talents from Europe.

Notably, the SPL ranked second only to the English Premier League in terms of football transfer expenditure, with a staggering 954 million euros ($1 billion) spent exclusively on transfer fees, according to Transfermarkt.

Remarkably, clubs in the oil-rich nation outspent several clubs from the "top five" European leagues, marking the first instance of another league surpassing any member of the dominant European group since 2016.

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Despite the tempting financial offers, the Saudi League encountered glaring setbacks in its pursuit of key acquisitions, most notably Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe.

The former Barcelona captain declined an exceedingly lucrative offer from Al-Hilal, opting instead to join David Beckham's MLS franchise, Inter Miami. Meanwhile, the Frenchman chose to remain with PSG, turning down a similar offer from the 18-time Saudi champions.

Addressing the minor glitch of falling short in securing the services of Messi and Mbappe, Emenalo told Sky Sports as quoted by Sportskeeda:

“I don't think there was any reason needed. There was no explanation needed. You don't know what is happening within a certain football family, whether it's personal or with their clubs, or with individuals and their family. We can't really know for sure.

"What we know is you put your best foot forward, try to work as hard as possible to put a convincing argument together as to why the player should join the adventure, and they make their decision. We solicit no further explanation."

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Emenalo speaks on Ronaldo's Saudi League impact

In a corresponding article, Sports Brief highlighted the former Chelsea technical director's commendation of Cristiano Ronaldo, recognizing the Al-Nassr star as "more than just a footballer."

While Ronaldo's performances on the pitch consistently draw audiences to stadiums worldwide, his exemplary work ethic and lifestyle have additionally solidified his position as a role model for Saudi youth, as Michael Emenalo pointed out.