Ronaldo And Messi Could Be Set For MLS Reunion: Reports

An MLS club is waiting for Lionel Messi’s decision on his future and exploring the possibility of signing his generational rival Cristiano Ronaldo according to respected former SPORT and Relevo journalist Toni Juanmarti.

Messi is expected to decide his next destination in the coming days ahead of being released from his Paris Saint-Germain contract on June 30.

The Argentine has been linked to former club FC Barcelona, but the Catalans’ delays in getting a viability plan approved by La Liga, which has now been greenlit, and still depending on sales to make his return happen because of their precarious economic predicament makes the operation difficult to pull off.

Al-Hilal’s interest in the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner is well-documented. The Messi camp were reported as accepting a €1.2 billion ($1.3 billion), two-year offer from the Saudis at the weekend by Footmercato, but GOAL – who like Fabrizio Romano believe the proposal would pay him €500 million ($534 million) a season – subsequently reported that the Messis asked to delay the move until 2024.

This then prompted the Saudi entourage, which traveled to Paris to get his signature, to inform them the offer won’t be the same a year from now.

Such figures would have Messi knock Ronaldo off the top of Forbes’ list of the World’s Highest-Paid Athletes and grant an El Clasico-esque reunion between the two players in the Middle East.

Ex-Real Madrid star Ronaldo currently plays for Al-Hilal’s arch enemies Al-Nassr following a January switch from Manchester United. According to well-informed Juanmarti, however, there is an MLS team waiting on Messi’s decision which is currently looking into whether it would be possible to sign Ronaldo.

The past 24 hours have seen Messi closely linked to Inter Miami with Argentine journalist Hernan Castillo reporting that he has already decided to join the David Beckham co-owned franchise.

Barca transfer market expert Gerard Romero later reported that Inter Miami sources have confirmed an agreement with Messi is drawing nearer, but it isn’t fully finalized yet.

Messi is expected to reach a decision as soon as Wednesday, however. At the same time, there have been reports from El Nacional and Mundo Deportivo that Ronaldo is already fed up of life in Saudi Arabia after struggling to adapt to the local culture.

As Juanmarti adds, the veteran is open to leaving Al-Nassr if he can get out of his two-and-a-half year contract, and boasting two stars of such magnitude would be a huge coup for the growing MLS if the other unnamed American club can sign Ronaldo while Messi joins Miami.