Lionel Messi Inter Miami transfer live updates: Follow the latest as World Cup winner heads to MLS

As recently as five months ago, those close to Lionel Messi’s camp were confident the freshly-crowned World Cup winner would sign a new contract to stay at Paris Saint-Germain beyond this summer’s expiry of his two-year deal. But something broke down between the French champions and the Argentina star, particularly after they were dumped out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich in March, and he is moving on.

As soon as there was a hint Messi’s future would be away from Paris, his long-time club Barcelona put themselves at the negotiating table. The Catalans want to re-sign him for several reasons: it’s a personal wish from their president Joan Laporta, who was left disheartened by the Camp Nou talisman’s departure when his contract ended two summers ago. Laporta wanted to mend that relationship by offering Messi the proverbial ‘last dance’ back in La Liga.

There’s also an economic dimension to the deal. Barcelona believe bringing Messi ‘home’ would significantly help their finances in a season which will see them playing home games away from the Camp Nou, in a much smaller stadium across town, to allow for what’s set to be more than a year of extensive building work. Barcelona will lose income while they can’t play at their famous ground, and superstar Messi has huge appeal for potential sponsors as well as fans all around the world.

How could Barcelona afford him, though, considering their ongoing monetary issues? No one knows, frankly. Which is why they are seeming less likely to land Messi as time goes by.

Barcelona can’t yet even give a formal offer to Messi, who turns 36 in less than three weeks, as they are still waiting for La Liga’s response to a viability plan covering the next two years they submitted last month. If La Liga gives that the green light, they should be allowed to proceed with signings for next season. But that has not happened yet, and Messi does not want to wait for long.

Important figures inside the Barcelona dressing room are feeling less and less optimistic about the club’s chances of bringing him back.