MLS commissioner Don Garber suggests 'David Beckham-like' deal for league to land Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi

The deal that brought then-Real Madrid star and England captain David Beckham to MLS could be used by commissioner Don Garber to seal the agreement for Lionel Messi to follow suit. The World Cup-winning icon is a free agent this summer, and rumours have long been swirling about his next club. Ad An emotional return to his former club Barcelona has been mooted and manager — as well as former Messi teammate — Xavi Hernandez has not ruled it out.

FootballThe Best FIFA Awards: Who voted for who? Messi and Deschamps do not vote for Mbappe28/02/2023 AT 09:57 He said recently: «For Messi, this is his home, he has the doors open. He is a friend and we are in permanent contact. His return depends on him.

Of course, he’s the best player in the world. The best player in history. He would always fit in the team.» Venezuelan newspaper El Nacional reports that Barcelona would evade potentially complex financial regulations in La Liga by paying Messi the league's minimum wage and offering him a €100M payout after his final match.

Other options for Messi's next club include Saudi Arabian side Al Ittihad, reported by Marca to be prepared to offer him £78M to renew his rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo in the Arabian Peninsula. These dizzying sums would seem to rule out a move to MLS where the highest ever salary is £11.6M, currently paid to Toronto FC’s Lorenzo Insigne. Inter Miami have long been linked with a move for Messi at some stage in his career, and the time may finally have come.

Asked about the long-running rumours, Garber was non-committal but offered some insights into his thinking. He told The Athletic: «You’re dealing with perhaps the most special player in the history of the game. So when there are rumours of him connected to