Inter Miami would be a dubious landing spot for Lionel Messi

The boos in Lionel Messi’s farewell match as a Paris Saint-Germain player made clear just how badly the Argentinian needs a fresh start, and a new club. Out of contract this summer, Messi faces a late career crossroads with three options in front of him – an emotional return to Barcelona, a switch that could be worth $1bn to Saudi Arabia or a move to Major League Soccer. PSG fans might have grown tired of Messi, but he remains a man in-demand.

As things stand, MLS would be a third choice for Messi. On Monday, his father said his son “would love to return to Barcelona”, while the hundreds of millions the Saudis are offering would tempt even someone as ludicrously wealthy as Messi. Having said that, MLS hasn’t pursued a player this aggressively since David Beckham was lured to the league back in 2007. Like Beckham, Messi is a player who would move the needle in the USA and Canada. He could kickstart a new phase of growth for MLS, and the sport in general, in the run-up to the 2026 World Cup on North American soil. Inter Miami, however, aren’t doing much for the sales pitch.

Inter Miami’s interest in Messi is longstanding. When Messi left Barcelona in 2021, Inter Miami made an offer. Even before they had entered MLS, Messi had been sounded out as a potential signing. Inter Miami’s pursuit now spans years, but Messi is unlikely to be impressed by what he sees.

Phil Neville was fired as Inter Miami head coach only last week, after a run of four straight defeats left the team bottom of the Eastern Conference. That run was extended to five straight defeats by Saturday’s home loss to DC United with Javier Morales now in place as interim head coach until further notice. Messi can’t even talk to the manager he’d be playing for.

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