David Ornstein of The Athletic is reporting that MLS side Inter Miami are the ‘most advanced option’ for Lionel Messi ahead of his contract expiry at PSG.
The legendary attacker is out of contract at the end of this season as he only penned a two-year deal last year when he left FC Barcelona to join PSG.
Messi was not able to stay at Barcelona due to their ongoing financial troubles so he joined a club in PSG who are certainly able to meet his weighty wage demands.
The 35-year-old was unable to hit the ground running last season as he only scored 11 goals for the French side across all competitions.
The Argentina international is putting that right this term though as he has scored more goals than he did last season in just 17 outings.
Supporters of PSG will be concerned at the moment though as Kylian Mbappe has made it clear that he wants to leave just a few months after signing a contract extension.
The Frenchman is said to have cited broken promises as a reason for his anger after his new contract afforded him a say behind-the-scenes.
And Messi is another player who could be nearing an exit. A move back to Barcelona has been discussed but Ornstein revealed on Monday morning that Inter Miami are the frontrunners to sign him. His report read.
‘Reports suggest PSG will push hard to extend his contract. He has also been linked with Inter Miami CF and a return to Barcelona.
‘The most advanced of those options is understood to be Inter Miami, to the extent that the Major League Soccer franchise now expect Messi to arrive and hope he will sign in the coming months.
‘Discussions between the two parties have been going on for a couple of years and there is increasing confidence that the proposed transfer will materialise.
‘Jorge and Jose Mas — the brothers who co-own Inter Miami alongside David Beckham — are leading the negotiations and numerous meetings have taken place with the star’s father, Jorge.
‘No more conversations are anticipated until the Wold Cup finishes and most probably early 2023, at which point Messi can put pen to paper on a pre-contract agreement with a foreign team.’
Ornstein went on to note that a move to Miami is known to be a ‘source of attraction for Messi’s family’.
The multiple-time Ballon d’Or winner ‘already owns property there’ and Ornstein acknowledges that it would be an ‘extraordinary achievement for Inter Miami and the league’ to acquire Messi.
Messi’s arrival is seen as a significant one for the league, with the USA set to host the World Cup in 2026.
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