Lionel Messi's transfer to Inter Miami has stunned the world as the superstar departs Europe for the first time in his senior career.
The Argentinian icon will depart Paris Saint-Germain after two seasons, with David Beckham beating the likes of the Barcelona and Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Hilal to his signature. It had appeared that the 35-year-old would be joining former rival Cristiano Ronaldo in the Gulf State, especially after an offer of some $400 million (£321m) per year was presented to the star.
To complicate matters further, the player's father and agent Jorge professed that his son would "love to return" to the Camp Nou. However, a move stateside now beckons for the decorated football legend, with the switch the realisation of a five-year-long courtship.
It means that Messi will not be renewing his rivalry with Ronaldo, after the pair went toe to toe in LaLiga for an unforgettable spell. However, Messi has left the door ajar to joining Ronaldo in the Middle East.
According to the Independent, the Messi contingent has informed those in Saudi Arabia that they would be open to revisiting a potential deal in the future. The legendary forward is already an ambassador for Saudi Tourism, and could still play football in the country where Ronaldo now plies his trade.
For now, though, it will be in Miami where Messi takes his talents. Intriguingly, when Inter Miami was officially established back back in 2018, Messi openly discussed the possibility of making the move to the MLS club in the future. In a congratulatory video sent to Beckham, he dropped the following hint: “Who knows, maybe in a few years you can give me a ring?”
The South Beach club played its first games in the MLS two years later, and has experienced mixed fortunes of late. Just this week, Beckham and his co-owners were left with seldom option but to dismiss coach Phil Neville after a torrid run of form that had left the Herons rooted to the bottom of the Eastern Conference.
Clearly, the powers-that-be at the fledgling club will be looking to improve results on the pitch with Messi's arrival. That said, it is also clear that the move will be a chance for the world-renowned star to experience a new culture with his family in the coastal city where he already owns a home.
The seven-time Ballon d'Or victor's arrival could well have a transformative effect in the United States, with the popularity of the game having increased considerably in recent decades. With the World Cup being held in the country in 2026, it is likely that the intrigue will only increase when Messi sets foot in Vice City.
The transfer is the first real blow for the ambitious Saudi Pro League, with a number of household names having been linked with a move there already this summer. Alongside the aforementioned deals for Ronaldo and Benzema in recent times, it looks ever more certain that Chelsea's Ngolo Kante will be the next high-profile name to move to Saudi Arabia, as per L'Equipe.
