‘Messi not to Saudi Arabia or Barcelona, but to Inter Miami’

Lionel Messi will continue his career with Inter Miami in the United States, report the BBC and France’s L’Equipe. The 35-year-old Argentine has chosen the American club over Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal where he could reportedly earn 400 million euros a year.

Messi said goodbye to Paris-Saint Germain on Sunday after two years. The striker, seven times voted best footballer in the world, had been linked with a return to FC Barcelona. But according to the BBC, Messi has not received an attractive offer from a European club.

Former footballer David Beckham is one of the owners of Inter Miami, where former Feyenoord goalkeeper Nick Marsman is under contract. Sports brand Adidas and tech giant Apple are said to help make Messi’s arrival at Inter Miami possible. No financial details of Messi’s contract are yet known.

Currently, Italian Lorenzo Insigne is big-earner in the American soccer league MLS. The Toronto striker has an annual salary of 14 million euros. Messi is expected to earn much more. Inter Miami is underperforming this season. The club is last in the Eastern Conference after 16 games.

Messi had to leave Barcelona in 2021 after 21 years because the club could no longer pay him. He announced his departure in tears at the time and signed for two years in Paris. In the French capital, he did not achieve the hero status he had in Barcelona, but he still accounted for 21 goals and 20 assists in all competitions this season.

He also became national champion with PSG. Messi captured the world title with Argentina late last year, the only top prize still missing from his impressive list of honors.