Inter Miami is increasingly confident that it can acquire current PSG superstar Lionel Messi. The 35-year-old Argentine striker’s contract with the Parisians expires in the summer of 2023. Therefore, his options are available elsewhere, should he wish to leave France.
The Athletic’s David Ornstein reports that Lionel Messi and Inter Miami have had talks about a potential transfer for years. Now, the MLS club is the main candidate to sign the Argentine. However, there is interest from Messi’s former club Barcelona. Furthermore, the Parisians are pushing hard for a contract extension to promote a dominant triumvirate at the top.
Joan Laporta, president of FC Barcelona, says that bringing Messi back is a personal priority. Joan Domènech of El Periódico claimed at the end of September that there is a realistic possibility that Messi will rejoin Barcelona for the 2023/24 campaign.
However, with Inter Miami now emerging as the favorite, there is more talk about the legend’s future.
Lionel Messi has stated that he will not make any decisions or discuss the future of his club until after the World Cup in Qatar.
Lionel Messi strongly linked to Inter Miami
After struggling in his first season in France, Messi returned to his brilliant best in recent weeks. In four Champions League games, Messi has four goals and three assists. At the national level, he racked up seven goals and another 10 assists in 12 games.
The rise in form illustrates just how monumental this signing would be for MLS. While the league continues to move away from the ‘retirement league’ smears of European players, Messi clearly remains one of the best players in the world. A few years ago, the transfer of Zlatan Ibrahimovic had a profound impact on the league and the LA Galaxy.
For Inter Miami in particular, a Lionel Messi transfer would be colossal. The club got off to a rocky start since its launch in 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic stunted its inaugural season. However, after finishing 11th among 14 Eastern Conference teams in 2021, Inter Miami clinched its first playoff berth in 2022. The club lost to NYCFC in the first round, 3–0.
With Lionel Messi’s former international partner Gonzalo Higuain leaving the club, Inter Miami could use Lionel Messi as more than just a spark to draw fans to the stadium. Messi galvanizes an Inter Miami team trying to carve their way to MLS success.
PHOTO: IMAGO / Panoramic
