Lionel Messi offered chance to leave MLS and play for Liverpool icon

Steven Gerrard has his eyes set on completing a historic move in Saudi football, expressing his desire to bring Lionel Messi to Al-Ettifaq.

Even though Cristiano Ronaldo is already playing in the Middle East, many football fans rank Messi higher in the list of the greatest players of the modern era. It is Messi, currently at Inter Miami, who has the Liverpool icon Gerrard very interested in.

Gerrard, who already had links with former Rangers team-mates James Tavernier and Connor Goldson, is eager to sign a marquee player for his side ahead of the new Saudi Pro League season. He is aiming for more after finishing sixth in his first season as manager.

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In an interview with MBC Masr 2, Gerrard said: “It is a dream for me to have Messi at Al Ettifaq. He is an incredible player and would be a great asset to the club. I know it’s hard for him to move to Saudi Arabia, but there’s nothing wrong with dreaming.

Gerrard was sacked by Aston Villa in October 2022, 11 months after joining from Rangers following their Scottish Premiership title win. He has won four of his last 22 games at Villa after making a bright start, winning eight of his first 16 Premier League games in charge.

“It was tough, it hurt, I felt it,” Gerrard told the Telegraph in May. “But what people have to understand is that if I didn’t feel that, if I didn’t take it personally, if I didn’t take full responsibility for it, then I’m not Steven Gerrard anymore, because when it comes to football, professional sport and something I love, I will always own it.”

Gerrard is one of Liverpool’s greatest ever players, having made over 700 appearances for the first team. He has won the Champions League, two FA Cups, three League Cups, the Community Shield, the Europa League and the European Super Cup with the Reds.