Football legend Lionel Messi has decided to leave European football and join Inter Miami. The news was confirmed by renowned football journalist Fabrizio Romano on Wednesday afternoon. Messi’s decision to move to the Major League Soccer (MLS) side has been the subject of intense speculation in recent days.
The Deal
Messi’s debut for Inter Miami has been scheduled for July 21 in a match against Mexican team Cruz Azul at DRV PNK Stadium. Major League Soccer and two of its biggest commercial partners, Apple and Adidas, have assisted Inter Miami in securing the deal.
🚨🚨 BREAKING: Lionel Messi to Inter Miami, here we go! The decision has been made and it will be announced by Leo in the next hours #InterMiami
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 7, 2023
🇺🇸 Messi will play in MLS. No more chances for Barcelona/Al Hilal despite trying to make it happen.
𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐖𝐄 𝐆𝐎#Messi #MLS pic.twitter.com/OTYWIlEzNc
Apple is reportedly prepared to offer Messi a share of the revenue generated by new subscribers to MLS Season Pass, the league’s streaming package on Apple TV+. Adidas, on the other hand, is offering Messi a profit-sharing agreement which would involve the player receiving a cut of any increase in Adidas’ profits resulting from his involvement in MLS.
In addition to these financial incentives, Messi may also be granted the option to buy a stake in an MLS team when his career in the States ends. This is a privilege that was also afforded to David Beckham when he played for LA Galaxy.
Messi’s Journey
Messi’s journey to Inter Miami has been a rollercoaster. His preference was believed to be a return to Barcelona, but due to financial reasons, a deal was not possible. His father and agent, Jorge Messi, met with Barcelona president Joan Laporta to discuss a potential return, but no offer was made.
The best financial offer came from Saudi Arabia, with Al-Hilal reportedly offering Messi a contract in the region of €400-600 million a year. However, Messi had no interest in moving to Saudi Arabia, and now, he is on his way to Inter Miami.
For more related articles, you might want to check out:
- Lionel Messi Set to Leave European Football for Inter Miami
- Reports: Lionel Messi Set to Join Inter Miami
- Cristiano Ronaldo Considers MLS Move if Lionel Messi Joins Inter Miami
This move marks a new chapter in Messi’s illustrious career, and football fans around the world will be eagerly watching his progress in the MLS.
