Lionel Messi ‘on brink of signing for Inter Miami’ where he could play alongside axed Man Utd star Cristiano Ronaldo
INTER MIAMI are on the verge of signing Lionel Messi, according to reports.
The Argentine star is set to be a free agent at the end of the season when his Paris Saint-Germain contract expires.
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Messi, 35, has been linked with a return to Barcelona to play under former team-mate Xavi.
But according to The Times, he is set to be made the highest paid player in MLS history by joining David Beckham’s franchise at the end of the current campaign.
Messi already owns a luxury £5m apartment in Miami, and regularly holidays there with his family.
With the United States joint hosting the next World Cup, MLS would be eager to recruit Messi in order to further raise the profile of their domestic game.
Beckham, 47, has a direct link to PSG’s Qatari owners as an ambassador for the country’s World Cup.
While he also has an avenue to Messi through their respective Adidas endorsement deals.
PSG could try to extend his staggering £1.2m-a-week contract – but the final decision will be up to Messi.
SunSport reported earlier this month that Inter Miami had entered talks with Cristiano Ronaldo.
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We told you that Messi has always remained Inter Miami’s No1 target.
But Ronaldo’s sensational axing from Manchester United alerted Becks and Co to the possibility of luring him Stateside.
The Times add that Inter want to recruit two of Messi’s former Barcelona team-mates to complement him in MLS.
They reckon that Luis Suarez and Cesc Fabregas are on the ambitious American side’s wishlist.
Suarez, 35, is currently at the World Cup in Qatar representing Uruguay, and plays in his club football in his homeland for Nacional.
While Fabregas, 35, joined Serie B side Como earlier this season after leaving Monaco.
Messi has remained close friends with Suarez and Fabregas since their Barca days.
The trio have regularly holidayed together in the summers, and last year went to Ibiza.
They were joined by their Wags Antonela Rocuzzo, Sofia Balbi and Daniella Semaan – who are also believed to be close.
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