Despite being linked with a move to MLS side Inter Miami, co-owned by Manchester United legend David Beckham, Messi has yet to agree on a contract extension with PSG.
Inter Miami want to sign Messi
Lionel Messi’s future is uncertain after Paris Saint-Germain’s defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League earlier this week. Despite being linked with a move to MLS side Inter Miami, co-owned by Manchester United legend David Beckham, Messi has yet to agree on a contract extension with PSG. It has been reported that Inter Miami is keen on signing Messi and is using every possible means to convince him to join the American franchise. The French newspaper has stated that Messi’s arrival would boost the MLS brand image and make him the number one priority of Jorge Mas, the main owner of Inter Miami. Talks between Messi’s entourage and Inter Miami began in June 2021, before he signed for PSG. The discussions resumed during the World Cup in Qatar in December, with Jorge Mas spending a considerable amount of time with Messi’s entourage.
Inter Miami may need to offer Leo a more lucrative contract
MLS commissioner Don Garber has emphasized that clubs have the flexibility to look for new formulas to lure stars to the league. Garber said that MLS is a single entity and that the collective must approve any deals. He stated that whatever Jorge Mas decides, with the help of MLS executive vice president Todd Durbin, it will be outside the box. The transfer market is exploding in unimaginable ways, and they will need to structure a deal that compensates Messi in ways that he and his family expect. The highest earner in MLS is Toronto FC’s Lorenzo Insigne, with a yearly salary of $14 million. Inter Miami may need to offer Messi a more lucrative contract, including real estate around the club’s new stadium or other sponsorship deals, to attract him to the club.
In conclusion, Inter Miami is working tirelessly to convince Messi to join their team. The potential arrival of the Argentine superstar would undoubtedly enhance the MLS’s brand image and attract more top-tier talent to the league. MLS teams are given the flexibility to structure deals to lure stars to their clubs, and if Inter Miami can put together a compelling offer, Messi may find himself playing in the United States sooner rather than later.