Lionel Messi has made his decision regarding his next club, which could potentially be his final destination in his illustrious football career. The news reveals that he will be joining Inter Miami in the MLS.
Confirmation of Messi’s move is expected later today, with his father and agent, Jorge, flying to Miami to finalize the deal.
This choice by Messi comes as a surprise to many. There were expectations that the 35-year-old would follow his old rival Cristiano Ronaldo to Saudi Arabia and sign a lucrative €1 billion deal with Al Hilal. Others believed he would return to Barcelona, the club where he established himself as one of the greatest players of all time. However, Barcelona’s financial constraints made a deal impossible, leading Messi to opt for Miami instead. The city’s lifestyle, which he already enjoys and where he owns property, played a role in his decision. Additionally, Inter Miami, partially owned by David Beckham, a footballer who shares Messi’s global fame, adds to the appeal. This move also serves as a significant publicity boost for the MLS as it continues its efforts to establish itself as a major player in American sports. The last time the league attracted a player of Messi’s caliber was when Beckham joined the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2007. The Athletic reported on Tuesday that the MLS has offered Messi a revenue-sharing agreement with Adidas and Apple TV+, the broadcaster of the league in the US. There have also been rumors that, like Beckham, Messi will have the opportunity to own an MLS team after retiring.
Messi is joining Inter Miami at a time of transition. The club currently sits at the bottom of the MLS’s Eastern Conference and recently dismissed manager Phil Neville. They also lack a permanent home in the city and are currently playing their matches at a temporary stadium in Fort Lauderdale with a capacity of 18,000. Furthermore, the team faced disciplinary action from the MLS in 2021 for violating roster rules. However, fortunes can change quickly in the MLS, a competition designed to promote parity compared to the European leagues Messi is accustomed to. Inter Miami is only six points behind the ninth-place team, which would qualify them for a play-in game to secure a spot in the end-of-season playoffs.
Messi’s contract with Paris St-Germain expires on June 30, and the club has confirmed that he will not be signing a new deal to remain in France.