Sources have informed ESPN that MLS club Inter Miami CF is in talks to sign Lionel Messi. While no deal has been finalized yet, sources suggest that the deal would include an option for Inter Miami to have a part-ownership, albeit without any subsidization from the league, unlike David Beckham’s case in 2007. Beckham, who is currently a co-owner of Inter Miami, was given the option to purchase an MLS team at a discounted price of $25 million when he moved to the LA Galaxy.
According to reports, a cut of revenue from new subscribers to Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass streaming service is also part of the negotiations. However, any agreements involving Messi and Adidas would solely be between the company and the player, without any direct involvement with MLS.
Messi’s Next Move
Despite Barcelona’s efforts to adjust their payroll, sources confirm that Messi has ruled out staying with the club for the next season. Reports suggest that senior figures behind Al Hilal’s attempt to sign Messi fear that he has lost interest and is weighing his next move.
While media reports suggest that the Argentine has reached a deal with Inter Miami, the Major League Soccer club has declined to confirm or deny the reports. Messi is set to become a free agent when his contract with Paris Saint-Germain expires on June 30th. PSG announced last week that Messi, who moved to Parc des Princes in 2021, will not remain with the club beyond the end of his deal.
Al Hilal, one of four Saudi Pro League clubs taken over by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, had made an offer to Messi earlier this year. Sources suggest that the club believed they had a “50-50” chance of signing the player. However, sources in Saudi Arabia have said that contact with the Messi camp has declined, and there is a growing acceptance that the Argentine is now torn between a return to Barca or a move to Inter Miami, which is part-owned by David Beckham.
Sources also reveal that Barcelona, although determined to re-sign their greatest player ever, could not overcome “complications” to get a deal done due to the need to prove the financial feasibility of any agreement to LaLiga.
A move to Miami, who recently parted ways with coach Phil Neville, would represent the biggest signing ever for MLS. The club has reportedly held talks with Tata Martino about taking on the managerial role. Martino is a former manager for Argentina and Barcelona, having worked with Messi on both teams.
Apple TV+ has recently secured the rights to a four-part documentary about Messi’s career, and also has a TV rights deal with MLS.
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