Lionel Messi Agrees To Join Inter Miami: Reports

Lionel Messi has agreed to join Inter Miami in the MLS according to multiple sources such as popular Argentine journalist Hernan Castillo and FC Barcelona transfer market expert Gerard Romero.

Last week, SPORT reported that the David Beckham-owned American franchise had made a formal offer to Messi which will pay him €50 million ($54 million) per season for four years.

Inter Miami have always been touted as a potential next destination for Messi, whose Paris Saint-Germain contract expires on June 30.

Until now, though, the Argentine has been most strongly linked to former club FC Barcelona and Al-Hilal in the Middle East.

Barca finally received the green light from La Liga to sign Messi on Tuesday, after their economic viability plan explaining how they can make the deal work amid financial difficulties was accepted by the Spanish top flight.

Yet amid reports that they are now ready to table a proposal to Messi, the Catalans still need to sell players to pull off the return of their greatest ever player and the Argentine wants to have his future resolved quickly to avoid living a transfer soap opera over the summer.

On Sunday, Footmercato reported how the Messi camp had accepted a €1.2 billion ($1.3 billion), two-season offer from Al-Hilal that would have him top Forbes’ list of the World’s Highest-Paid Athletes in 2024.

On Monday, however, Messi’s entourage told a Saudi delegation which traveled to Paris to close a potential deal that they wish to delay the move until 2024 according to GOAL.

Messi and his father and agent Jorge Messi have been reported by Joan Fontes as preferring Al-Hilal despite Jorge being recorded by Romero’s Jijantes FC outlet saying they “would love” a second stint at Barca.

Messi’s wife Antonella apparently wants a move to Miami, however, where the Messis own a luxury condo, and it appears that the Qatar 2022 champion has heeded her wish.

Castillo will explain more about Messi’s supposed switch to the MLS on Argentine radio, but he has already stressed that there will be “no more meetings” as Florida’s largest city is where the 35-year-old will continue his career.

In late 2020, Messi revealed that he has always “had the dream” of being able to live in the United States and “experience what the league there is like”.

If these reports are accurate, it is a dream that is finally about to become a reality.

At Argentine daily sports newspaper Ole, however, their editor Hernan Claus writes that nothing is 100% closed with Inter Miami but it is an option that “does not stop growing” and is “advancing in silence” as Barca – Messi’s top choice – continue being unable to offer him guarantees because of their financial predicament.