Major League Soccer and Inter Miami remain optimistic about luring Lionel Messi away from Barcelona.
The 35-year-old’s departure from Paris Saint-Germain has been a long time coming, with many expecting a fairytale return to Barcelona to materialize despite the Catalan giants’ continuing financial difficulties. Messi’s father Jorge has been in regular dialogue with president Joan Laporta about a return to the Camp Nou and it is no secret that it is his preferred destination.
It remains to be seen whether or not Barcelona are in a position to re-sign Messi, despite La Liga having approved their financial feasibility plan. 90min understands that registering Gavi’s new contract was the club’s first order of business, while Ronald Araujo and Alejandro Balde’s upgraded deals have yet to be officially ratified.
Multiple sources have confirmed to 90min that MLS and Inter Miami see an opportunity to sneak in and poach Messi, and there is growing optimism that a deal can be struck to bring the World Cup star to the United States. from last year.
The package offered to Messi is expected to include payments from MLS’s two biggest business partners, Apple and adidas, who have the financial clout to help match the potential gains from a return to Barcelona.
There’s even the possibility of Messi joining Inter Miami before returning to Barcelona on loan; that would be a way for the Argentine to have one last chance to win the Champions League with Xavi before concentrating on MLS for the last few years of his career.
Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal have also tabled a mammoth offer for Messi, which 90min revealed in May was understood to be worth more than €400m a year, significantly more than Cristiano Ronaldo earns. in Al Nassr.
There is no indication at this stage that Messi is looking to take up that offer, but the more time Barcelona have to drag their heels and polish their financial plans, the more chance there is that the Argentine will grow impatient. At this stage, however, he seems to be in no hurry to decide his future.
If Messi were to head to Saudi Arabia, he would join Karim Benzema as a prominent arrival in the Middle East – the Frenchman recently signed a three-year deal to join champions Al Ittihad from Real Madrid.
N’Golo Kante and Wilfried Zaha are two other players approaching a move to Saudi Arabia, and their respective Premier League careers appear to be coming to an end after receiving big contract proposals, and a slew of offers have been suggested. other big names. join Benzema in the not too distant future.
