As the search for a new club comes to an end, Argentine football legend Lionel Messi has been reported to be on the verge of putting pen to paper on a deal to join U.S. Major League Soccer club Inter Miami.
This deal comes as the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner finalises his exit from French side Paris St-German in a relationship many term “living below expectation.”
Before this deal became public knowledge, his former club, Barcelona FC, and the Saudi Arabian side, Al-Hilal, had made intense efforts to sign him, hoping for a relationship that transcended beyond the football pitch.
Barcelona FC were constrained by the Football Fair Play rule in Spain that prevents clubs from breaking their accounts to sign players, while Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal had proposed a more lucrative offer that many speculate is above Cristiano Ronaldo and former Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema’s deals.
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However, information gathered about the Inter Miami deal showed that big brands like Adidas and Apple played a crucial role in securing the services of the 2022 World Cup winner.
Despite his desire to stay in Europe, the chance of playing in the U.S., added to the lack of interesting financial offers, including the sunshine lifestyle, were perhaps some of the alluring reasons that persuaded Messi to choose the Miami side.
He already owns a house in Miami, which he rents out.
The signing of Messi will be a strong statement that Major League Soccer is making to the footballing world that it can truly attract the best legs.
With more than 805 goals scored in nearly 1,025 games, the former Barcelona great will be expected to add to that tally once he moves to the U.S.
Messi will be joining a long list of football superstars who have plied their trade in the MLS. Some of these names include David Beckham, Frank Lampard, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Wayne Rooney, Pele, and many others.
