Lionel Messi has hit to form at PSG this season after a mediocre first season at the club. The 35-year-old joined the Parisians last summer from FC Barcelona, but failed to emulate his routine exploits in the first 12 months accumulating just 11 goals and 15 assists across 34 games in all competitions. However, Messi has regained his Midas touch and has already smashed in 12 goals and racked up 13 assists in just 17 games this season.
But the question which still remains is where will the Argentine end up next summer, after his current deal with PSG expires, unless he chooses to trigger the option of putting stay by another 12 months. On the other hand, his former club Barcelona too are pushing to bring him back and rectify their mistake. With growing speculation over Messi’s future, The Athletic’s David Ornstein has addressed the same as he claims MLS side Inter Miami are hot favourites to land the PSG superstar.
Ornstein makes some big revelations about Inter Miami’s plans to lure Lionel Messi
David Beckham owned Inter Miami are not a new name on the list of potential suitors trying to lure away Lionel Messi. Inter Miami have previously been linked with a move for the Argentina captain as well, who himself wants to try the experience of playing in the MLS. However, last summer reportedly came too soon as the ‘La Pulga’ wanted to remain in Europe until this year’s FIFA World Cup.
But Miami are now growing confident that they can land Messi next summer, when he becomes a free agent. Though there will be a stern competition from PSG who want to extend their no. 30, and Barca who want to reclaim their lost glory, Inter Miami feel Beckham’s close relations with the four-time Champions League winner would do it for them. And Ornstein, who is one of the most reliable journalists in the footballing world reveals the MLS side founded in 2018 has done all its homework. In his column for The Athletic, Ornstein wrote:
“Reports suggest PSG will push hard to extend his contract. He has also been linked with Inter Miami CF and a return to Barcelona. The most advanced of those options is understood to be Inter Miami, to the extent that the Major League Soccer franchise now expect Messi to arrive and hope he will sign in the coming months.
Discussions between the two parties have been going on for a couple of years and there is increasing confidence that the proposed transfer will materialise. Jorge and Jose Mas- the brothers who co-own Inter Miami alongside David Beckham are leading the negotiations and numerous meetings have taken place with the star’s father, Jorge.
No more conversations are anticipated until the World Cup finishes and most probably early 2023, at which point Messi can put pen to paper on a pre-contract agreement with a foreign team. Inter Miami have always known that a move to their city is a source of attraction for Messi’s family, who already own a property there. Miami’s community links with South America are strong, too. Beckham and the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner share a good relationship but the Mas brothers are spearheading the pursuit. They will desperately hope that it comes to fruition.”
As evident from Ornstein’s revelations, Inter Miami are leaving no stone unturned in their pursuit of Lionel Messi. However, they will have to wait until the upcoming World Cup concludes, which is also going to be the Argentine captain’s last appearance at the tournament as confirmed by himself. But there’s no denying that a move to the United States, who are co-hosting the 2026 edition of the FIFA World Cup could also boost the country’s chances of creating a stellar run-up to the tournament with Messi plying trade in there.