Lionel Messi has had a resurgence of form this season. After a slow start last season he still managed a more than respectable 11 goals and 15 assists, but this year he has nearly blown that return out of the water in only 17 games, with 12 goals and 13 assists.
So it came as a shock on Monday morning when reports linked Messi with a move to the MLS where he could link up with David Beckham's Inter Miami. The US side has a designated player spot available after the retirement of his Argentinian teammate Gonzalo Higuain.
However, this could throw a spanner in the works of the plans of Cristiano Ronaldo. The relationship between the Portuguese forward and Manchester United has been on shaky ground this season with the situation coming to a head when the striker walked down the tunnel before the end of the match against Tottenham.
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Erik ten Hag removed him from the squad for the following game against Chelsea, but Ronaldo has now returned and played the entire 90 minutes against Sheriff Tiraspol and West Ham United, so it seems that the situation has been resolved for now. But there is still a chance United's famous number 7 chooses to leave in January.
The question is if Ronaldo still wants to leave in January, which clubs will want him and be able to afford him? Sporting Lisbon have been a club that has been consistently linked with a nostalgic homecoming for the 37-year-old but there are still question marks over whether they can afford his wages.
So this is where Inter Miami's move for Messi comes in. The MLS club has been linked with a move for Ronaldo since their club exited the playoffs and they have the money to pay his wages while making him the face of the franchise and most likely the face of the league.
But if Miami were instead to move for Messi, this would cut off that option for Ronaldo.
Overall, it is still unclear whether Ronaldo will move in January or see out the remainder of his contract with United and then look to move on in the summer. But it seems that Messi could inflict one final blow on his great rival with his own plans for the future.
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