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Lionel Messi has agreed to join Inter Miami in the MLS according to popular Argentina journalist Hernan Castillo.
In Spain, FC Barcelona transfer market expert Gerard Romero also implied the move will come to fruition.
Last week, SPORT reported that the David Beckham co-owned American franchise had made a formal offer to Messi which will pay him €50 million ($54 million) per season for four years.
Inter Miami has always been touted as a potential next destination for Messi, whose Paris Saint-Germain contract expires on June 30.
Until now, though, the Argentine has been most strongly linked to former club FC Barcelona and Al-Hilal in the Middle East.
Barca finally received the green light from La Liga to sign Messi on Tuesday, after their economic viability plan explaining how they can make the deal work amid financial difficulties was accepted by the Spanish top flight.
Still, amid reports that they are now ready to table a proposal to Messi, the Catalans needs to sell players to pull off the return of their greatest-ever player and the Argentine wants to have his future resolved quickly to avoid living a transfer soap opera over the summer.
On Sunday, Footmercato reported how the Messi camp had accepted a €1.2 billion ($1.3 billion), two-season offer from Al-Hilal that would have him top Forbes’ list of the World’s Highest-Paid Athletes in 2024.
On Monday, however, Messi’s entourage told a Saudi delegation which traveled to Paris to close a potential deal that they wish to delay the move until 2024 according to GOAL.
Messi and his father and agent Jorge Messi have been reported by Joan Fontes as preferring Al-Hilal despite Jorge being recorded by Romero’s Jijantes FC outlet saying they “would love” a second stint at Barca.
Messi’s wife, Antonella, apparently wants to move to Miami, where Messi has a luxury condo. It appears that the Qatar 2022 champion has heeded her wish.
Castillo will explain more about Messi’s supposed switch to the MLS on Argentine radio, but he has already stressed that there will be “no more meetings” as one of Florida’s largest cities is where the 35-year-old will continue his career.
Romero was more cryptic by first tweeting a song from popular Cuban reggaeton group Gente de Zona named La Gozadera, which starts with the lyrics “Miami confirmed it”. “It’s been nice, gentlemen,” he added himself.
On Wednesday morning, Romero further reported that Messi’s decision could be announced on the same day if what Jorge Messi previously commented was true.
Romero also says that Inter Miami sources have confirmed an agreement with Messi is drawing nearer, but it isn’t fully closed yet.
In late 2020, Messi revealed that he has always “had the dream” of being able to live in the United States and “experience what the league there is like”.
If these reports are accurate, it is a dream that is finally about to become a reality.
At Argentine daily sports newspaper Ole, however, their editor Hernan Claus echoed Romero by writing that nothing is 100% finalized with Inter Miami. It is an option that “does not stop growing” and is “advancing in silence”, Claus reported, as Barca – Messi’s top choice – continues being unable to offer him guarantees because of their financial predicament.
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Based in Barcelona since 2019 after six years in São Paulo, I have written on these topics at length through previews and analysis while having also covered match reports for tournaments such as the Copa America. As well as writing for Forbes Sports, I edit Yellow & Green Football: a site on Brazilian soccer that is part of the Guardian Sport Network and a partner of O Globo.
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