World Cup winner Lionel Messi is tipped to finalize a deal with Inter Miami, opting to join the MLS club instead of returning to FC Barcelona or accepting a lucrative offer from the Saudi Pro League, according to reports on Wednesday.
Both MLS and Inter Miami declined to comment on the matter.
Insiders had previously informed The Athletic earlier this week that Messi might make his debut for Inter Miami as early as July 21. The report also revealed that the MLS club’s offer to Messi included a revenue-sharing arrangement based on the number of subscribers to the league’s streaming package on Apple TV+.
Additionally, there were discussions about a potential profit-sharing agreement with Adidas, the sportswear company that currently maintains partnerships with MLS and the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner.
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In a recent announcement, Apple TV+ confirmed its plans to develop a docuseries about Messi, further lending credence to the reports of his move to Inter Miami. The streaming service initially tweeted “Miami” as part of a list of Messi’s teams but subsequently deleted the tweet.
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Lionel Messi, aged 35, commenced his senior career with Barcelona in 2004, playing for the Spanish La Liga powerhouse until his departure in 2021 to join Paris Saint-Germain. Last week, the French Ligue 1 champions officially declared that Messi would leave the club this summer upon the expiration of his contract at the end of June.
Having guided Argentina to a World Cup victory in December, the star striker has amassed a remarkable total of 102 goals in 174 international appearances. Throughout his tenures in Spain and France, Messi has scored over 700 goals for his respective clubs.
Inter Miami, currently positioned at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, which consists of 15 MLS teams, had a modest performance in its inaugural season, finishing 10th. In subsequent years, the club secured 11th and sixth places in the 2021 and 2022 Eastern Conference standings, respectively.
The MLS club is owned by soccer legend David Beckham, along with billionaires Jorge Mas and Jose Mas. Beckham had previously visited Messi during an April practice session at Paris Saint-Germain.