Messi snubs Saudi Arabia to join Major League Soccer club Inter Miami

Soccer superstar Lionel Messi has confirmed a move from Paris Saint-Germain to Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.

After months of speculation, Messi announced his decision on Wednesday (European time) to join a Miami franchise part-owned by another global soccer icon in David Beckham.

Messi in his last game for Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday.Credit: Getty Images

One of Inter Miami’s owners, Jorge Mas, tweeted out a photo of a darkly silhouetted Messi jersey shortly before the Argentinian great revealed his decision in interviews with Spanish news outlets Mundo Deportivo and Sport.

“I made the decision that I am going to go to Miami,” he said.

“I still don’t have it 100 per cent closed – I’m still missing a few things, but we decided to go ahead.”

It was widely believed that Messi would choose to play for Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia following fellow great and his longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo to a nation where some clubs now are funded by the state’s sovereign wealth fund. Going back to Barcelona, a storied franchise that he spent most of his career with, was another possibility.

However, financial problems at Barcelona quashed Messi’s desire to reunite with the Spanish La Liga club, where he gained worldwide fame from 2004-21.

Saudi Arabia offered a reported $US400 million a year to play at Al-Hilal, which would have allowed him to renew a rivalry with Ronaldo, albeit in a vastly diminished spotlight from the European scene.

Messi owns property in Miami and has said many times over the past year that he would like to play in the United States.

Terms of an agreement with Inter Miami are unclear, although Messi would almost certainly raise the bar for the highest salary in MLS history. Toronto FC is paying Italian Lorenzo Insigne a record $US14 million.

Inter Miami may also have offered him a minority stake in the club, which is owned by billionaire businessman Mas and his brother, Jose, as well as Beckham.

ESPN reported Messi’s deal could also include an agreement with Apple TV, which holds the league’s broadcast rights.

As for the MLS, Messi’s arrival would mark the league’s biggest splash signing since Beckham joined the LA Galaxy in 2007.

MLS commissioner Don Garber told The Athletic in March that bringing Messi to the United States would be a boon for the league.

“You’re dealing with perhaps the most special player in the history of the game,” Garber said of Messi.

“So when there are rumours of him connected to Miami, that’s great. And if it could happen, it would be terrific for MLS, it would be terrific for Messi and his family, and like everything with us, we try to run every opportunity down.”

Inter Miami currently sit last in the Eastern Conference with 15 points. Only New York City FC have scored fewer goals in the East than Miami.

AP, Reuters

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