Messi, Paris Saint-Germain, and Geopolitical in the Middle East
Saudi and Iran. Syria and Saudi. Syria and the UAE. Saudi and Qatar. Iran and Saudi. Iran and the UAE. Egypt and Turkey. Saudi and the Houthis. Oman mediating. Iraq mediating, FM Saudi on Syria for first time since 2011, Palestine (Hamas and Fatah) mediating with Saudi. Syria and Oman. Bahrain and Turkiye. Oman and Kuwait. Syria and Kuwait. Iraq and Bahrain. Iran and Iraq. Saudi and Kuwait. Bahrain and Qatar. Egypt and Qatar. New Order in the Middle East. Multiple peace agreement between Arab countries, thanks (initiative brokered deal) by China. US and Israel no longer “devide it impera” in the Middle East.
But highlight: started because 2 leaders, 2 strongest middle east (*not counting Israel), agree to peace: Saudi and Iran.
Then, Messi’s saga in the last 72 hours, actually shows how ambitious, although at peace with each other, 2 countries: Saudi and Qatar.
Qatar is very smart to promote its position. Starting because Pep Guardiola (was, nearly 2 decades ago) played in Qatar, then, successfully to be sponsor for Barcelona. One of Pep's students was play-and-also-coach in Qatar: Xavi, now Barcelona coach. Awkward: Pep now in “very UAE (United Arab Emirates) club”: Manchester City. Owned by a UAE prince, sponsored by ETIHAD.
When Pep became Bayern Munich coach, a lot of coincidence: Qatar gave more money to Bayern-and-then to be one of flagship sponsors alongside adidas and t-mobile. Even until 2 years from now, Bayern will train in Qatar every winter in Europe.
Successfully promoting Qatar (via Qatar Airways, Qatar Tourism Board, ties with prominent football profiles), Qatar successfully hosted FIFA World Cup 2022. The key isn’t money, but (gargantuan) patience. In years.
Then, Saudi thought “2-3 steps behind Qatar and UAE on global spotlight of football ”, and try to minimize the gap: Messi. After to be Tourism Ambassador since a year ago, his visit this week sparked anger in Paris.
Saudi have a dream, even after Sudan chaos in the last 3 weeks (*Sudan arguably near Saudi, and pretty serious concern about security): to be host FIFA World Cup 2023, a 100 years of World Cup, although FIFA indicate that the host for 2030 (maybe) Argentina-Uruguay because FIFA World Cup 1930 host is Uruguay.
If Qatar spends US$250 billion just for the World Cup, Saudi can spend US$500 billion or even 1 Trillion. US$ 200 million / year for Cristiano Ronaldo (via Al Nassr), or proposal US$400 million / year for Messi (via Al Hilal) is small money.
PSG owned by Qatar. Imagine: 2 Superstars of PSG, play in the Final World Cup: Messi vs Mbappe, in Doha Qatar. How “jackpot win” for Qatar. PSG also collecting another LATAM superstar-and-until-tonight still the most expensive transfer ever in football: Neymar (around 277 million euro)
Qatar, not only PSG, is very angry about Messi's attitude towards Saudi.
So Messi said sorry in his video hours ago.
Although (in the paper) Saudi and Qatar say peace after blockade of food, logistics, and flying zones 7 years ago, competition between Saudi and Qatar is still alive. And Messi to be a loophole.