It’s a story that’s been circling around Major League Soccer for a week now, and it won’t go away, as the potential move of Lionel Messi from Ligue 1 to Miami could well be on.
The story was broken by DIRECTTV Sports, a South American channel, and it suggested the Argentine superstar would purchase 35 per cent of Inter Miami, part-owned by David Beckham, in a move which would see him leave Paris Saint-Germain a year after his arrival at the Parc des Princes was the biggest Ligue 1 2022 news in years.
The DIRECTTV report has been denied by French newspaper Le Parisien, but the rumour has continued to gain momentum and the most famous sportsman on the planet could be off to the ‘land of opportunity’.
Messi didn’t want to leave Barcelona for Paris in the first place, after 17 amazing seasons at the Catalonia club where he won a record seven Ballon d’Or awards and a staggering 34 trophies, including ten La Liga titles and four Champions League winners medals. But the Blaugrana was in a financial muddle and couldn’t afford his wages (even though he suggested he would take a huge cut), but PSG’s Qatari owners could.
His first campaign with PSG could well be his last and while Messi picked up yet another league title, he didn’t hit the numbers on the pitch that he is accustomed to. He had to settle for 11 goals and 13 assists, though he did rattle the woodwork ten times, so an inch here or there may have seen him get past his usual 20-goal mark. And when PSG crashed out of the Champions League to finalists Real Madrid, the Argentine star had a clear indication of what he is missing.
PSG won the French title at a canter and the Ligue 1 2022 betting odds were never in any doubt, so maybe Messi does need another challenge in the twilight of his career.
He may well be planning his next move and, at the age of 34, that might mean part ownership of a club as well as extending his playing career on a new and very different stage. Analysts estimate that if Messi were to buy 35 per cent of Inter Miami, that would equate to an investment of over $200m.
Ex-Napoli and Chelsea striker Gonzalo Higuain is currently the biggest star at the Miami club…but that could be about to change.
Does Miami need the Messi magic?
Premier League legend David Beckham was, himself, tempted by Major League Soccer back in 2007 and as, part of his move to LA Galaxy, he negotiated a deal which would allow him to buy an MLS expansion franchise in the future.
The former Manchester United and Real Madrid star officially began the process in 2014 and, after a number of frustrations, he was awarded a franchise and Inter Miami played its first game in 2020. A 1-0 defeat away to Los Angeles FC was followed by a 2-1 defeat to DC United and then a home game against Beckham’s former club LA Galaxy was cancelled due to COVID.
So things were not as sunny in Florida as Beckham had hoped and by the end of Inter’s first campaign, which was constantly interrupted by COVID, they finished with seven wins, three draws and 13 defeats. And there were problems off the field, too, when an MLS investigation found the club was paying undisclosed financial benefits to former Juventus star Blaise Matuidi, along with young Colombian defender Andres Reyes.
This meant the club had five Designated Players when league rules allowed only three and the club was sanctioned, though the ownership was cleared of any wrongdoing.
Beckham recruited his old Red Devils mate and former England Women’s head coach Phil Neville to lead the team in 2021, but progress has been slow, and Inter Miami have won three, drawn two and lost seven of their first 12 games in the 2022 campaign. But the boss was delighted when his side beat New York Red Bulls 2-0 last weekend.
So the signing of Messi could lift the club out of a malaise on the pitch, while helping it to cast the financial irregularities from its first season into the annals of old news. But Miami needs a lift, and a big one, fairly soon if Beckham is to transfer the club from a new, and not particularly impressive member, into a top MLS club.
This could easily be the biggest story of June, so keep it here at SBOTOP for the up-to-the-minute news and all the transfer updates across the major leagues.
It’s going to be one heck of a summer!
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