In Short
- Lionel Messi is expected to join Inter Miami next season
- Messi’s deal will be a complex one if it goes through
- Lionel Messi had major interest from Saudi Arabia
By India Today Sports DeskMessi, who has been linked to Inter Miami for some time, can choose his next team as a free transfer when his Paris Saint-Germain contract expires at the end of June.
Messi has offers from Miami, his former club FC Barcelona and Saudi club Al-Hilal, but Miami is the likeliest landing spot because Barcelona can’t guarantee a deal until it sells a player, according to reports from Argentinian and Spanish outlets.
The website SPORT reported last week that Miami offered Messi $54 million per year for four years. Spanish journalist Guillem Balague said Sunday that Miami’s offer to Messi included complex sponsorship deals with brands like Apple and Adidas to help pay him top dollar.
Then, Apple TV+ announced Tuesday that it secured the rights to a four-part documentary about Messi’s career. Apple TV+ is also in the first year of a TV rights deal with MLS.
In 2022 Messi’s camp denied a report that Messi would come to Inter Miami and receive a 35 percent ownership stake in the club after his PSG contract expired.
Messi, who turns 36 in June, had 16 goals and 16 assists for PSG in Ligue 1 action in 2022-23. He’s also less than one year removed from leading Argentina to a World Cup victory.
Kole Prosacco
Ryleigh Mante
Kraig Prohaska