A 2022 FIFA World Cup star has revealed he is worried about his future after his team reportedly made an offer to sign Lionel Messi, whom he had an altercation with at the global tournament in Qatar.
Messi is left with little more than a month before his contract at Paris Saint-Germain expires, with reports suggesting it is now a three-way race for his signature between FC Barcelona, Inter Miami and Al Hilal.
Read: 'I will take a pay cut to bring Messi to the EPL!'
The latter team is believed to have tabled the most lucrative bid so far, having reportedly offered him a deal worth €500 million (R10.3 billion) a year.
It is unclear whether or not this record annual salary will convince the Argentine to join the Saudi Arabian outfit, though, given that there are also claims the player would like to remain in Europe.
Nevertheless, speculation regarding Messi making a move to the Riyadh team has reached the ears of his potential new teammates, with one in particular having now confessed a major concern should the 35-year-old arrive at his club as a free agent next season.
Defender Ali Al-Bulayhi had an altercation with the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner in Qatar, during Argentina's opening group game against Saudi Arabia.
The pair were involved in several duels prior to a tense exchange of words as the centre-back's country claimed an iconic 2-1 victory over the eventual winners of the tournament, and the Al Hilal star is now seemingly worried that spat may have an impact on his future at the club.
"I do not know what will happen, and I am afraid that he says, 'I do not want No. 5'," Al-Bulayhi told SBC
"I do not know if Messi will come or not, but if he comes, may God protect me!
"If he comes, God willing, I will not attend the first two days until I monitor the situation from afar so that he may forget me."
Meanwhile, another player who had tension with Messi at the showpiece, Robert Lewandowski, has opened up about his latest encounter with the Albiceleste captain at the Laureus World Sport Awards on 8 May.
Read: Ex-Bafana star: I hate Mbappe but...
In an interview with Interia Sport, the Barca and Poland striker said: "Keep it a secret, but when I told him about Barcelona, his eyes lit up.
"And it's not surprising; after all, he grew up here, he has a house here that he visits often. Barcelona is his home."
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