Gerrard’s Dream of Bringing Messi to Saudi Pro League
Steven Gerrard has expressed his ambition to sign Lionel Messi for his Saudi Pro League team, Al-Ettifaq. He acknowledged that while it may seem like a far-fetched dream, he believes there’s nothing wrong with aiming high.
The influx of top-tier football talent to the Saudi Pro League began with Cristiano Ronaldo’s move to Al-Nassr after his departure from Manchester United in December 2022. Ronaldo’s record-breaking contract sparked a trend. Following his arrival, numerous European stars came to the Middle East.
Despite these high-profile signings, Saudi Arabia missed out on Lionel Messi. Messi chose Inter Miami over a lucrative offer from the Saudi Pro League after his exit from PSG in the summer of 2023. Gerrard, however, still dreams of bringing the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner to Al-Ettifaq.
In an interview with MBC Masr 2, Gerrard stated, “It’s a dream for me to have Messi at Al-Ettifaq. He is an incredible player and would be a great asset for the club. I know it’s difficult for him to move to Saudi Arabia, but there’s nothing wrong with dreaming.”
Gerrard himself moved to Al-Ettifaq last summer, initially signing a two-year contract that was extended until 2027 despite a challenging start – he won only seven of his first 21 matches. Al-Ettifaq finished the season in 6th place.
The former Liverpool captain was joined at Al-Ettifaq by ex-Liverpool teammate Jordan Henderson (who also quickly left the club) and other former Premier League players such as Georginio Wijnaldum, Demarai Gray, and Moussa Dembele. On the other hand, Messi’s move to the MLS also saw his former Barcelona teammates Sergio Busquets, Luis Suarez, and Jordi Alba joining him at Inter Miami.
Gerrard’s vision of bringing Messi to Saudi Arabia shows that the Saudi Pro League is still trying to attract more iconic names after Ronaldo’s landmark move.
