Lionel Messi signs with Inter Miami. Renowned journalist Guillem Balague reports for BBC Sport, reports that the Argentinian star is signing with Major League Soccer Club for a number of reasons. He will move to MLS once his PSG contract expires at the end of June.
Both PSG and the player agreed to go their separate ways after Messi’s much-hyped move to France didn’t go as expected. PSG were eliminated in the Champions League round of 16 in both years with Messi. Most recently, the player’s trip to Saudi Arabia after being eliminated from the Champions League caused a stir in the PSG camp. He was threatened with ban from the club for his association with Visit Saudi.
This connection with the Saudi Arabian tourism authority was one of the main reasons why the Saudi Pro League was a likely landing spot for Messi. Not only did the league offer far more salary than MLS can offer, it’s also a popular transfer place for stars. Cristiano Ronaldo already plays in La Liga and Karim Benzema is moving there this summer.
However, Balague notes that Miami presented some great offers for Messi. The deal with Miami includes collaborations with big brands like Apple and Adidas. Apple is of course the only streaming provider of Major League Soccer worldwide. Messi’s arrival can be invaluable for MLS Season Pass growth. Adidas has sponsored Messi since 2006 and is also the supplier of all kits for MLS clubs.
Besides, the Barcelona star already has a home in Miami. Balague says he’s currently renting it out, but that wouldn’t be a problem to change.
Messi prefers Inter Miami to Barcelona and Saudi Arabia
According to Balague, Messi is open to Barcelona return. The star left the club on pretty bad terms as the club couldn’t afford to keep him on their books. Likewise, the Catalan club couldn’t comply with financial fair play regulations to secure a major deal like Messi’s.
At the other end of the spectrum, Saudi Arabia offered Messi absurd amounts of money. According to a report, Messi and the Saudi Pro League have struck a deal worth $650m. In hindsight, that wasn’t true. Notwithstanding, a transfer expert said that each package for Messi would have netted the player nearly $1 billion.
Despite his wealth, Messi signs with Inter Miami. He is likely to join mid-season and that is welcome for the club. Bottom-bottom in the Eastern Conference, Miami is manager Phil Neville.
Over in Barcelona, the news was not well received. A statement from the club said: “President Laporta understood and respected Messi’s decision to compete in a league with fewer demands, away from the limelight and the pressures he has faced in recent years.”
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2023-06-07 20:55:02
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