Lionel Messi has confirmed his move to Major League Soccer in America. The 2022 World Cup winning Argentine captain made the move after spending two seasons at Paris Saint Germain (PSG) after he left Barcelona in 2021. There were earlier reports that Messi might end up making a comeback to Barcelona. But the reports were quashed after Messi confirmed the Miami move.
“I’ve taken the decision that I am going to Miami, I don’t have (the deal) 100 percent sealed or maybe there’s something left to do, but we decided to continue our path there,” Messi was quoted as saying by Spanish newspapers Diario Sport and Mundo Deportivo on Wednesday. The Inter Miami club is co-owned by England International David Beckham, and it was founded in 2018 also made conformation of the news on social media.
The truth is my decision went another way and not for money – Lionel Messi on joining Inter Miami
Messi had won the Ballon d’Or seven times; it looks like he would be bestowed with the coveted title once again as he led Argentina to World Cup glory in 2022 at Qatar. “If it had been a question of money, I would have gone to Saudi Arabia or elsewhere,” Messi said .“It seemed a lot of money and the truth is that my decision went another way and not for money.” Inter Miami recently ousted coach Phil Neville after the side were languishing at the bottom of the table.
Messi who turns 36 soon will end up doing what could be the last phase of his football career outside of Europe. Messi further said that he wanted to come back to Barcelona but financial complications for the club prevented them from pushing Messi’s deal with the club after 2021.
“I really wanted to come back, I was really looking forward to it,” added Messi. “But, on the other hand, after having lived through what I lived through, after the exit I had… I didn’t want to go through the same situation again and have to wait to see what was going to happen. “I didn’t want to leave my future in the hands of others. Somehow, I wanted to make my own decision for myself, for my family.” Messi further said he would love to be associated with Barcelona in the future under some capacity.
