REVEALED: How Barcelona still have a chance to sign Lionel Messi

James Shearman

• Updated: 11 Jun 2023 10:19 BST
• 3 min read

There remains hope for Barcelona in the Lionel Messi transfer saga as he could return on loan from Inter Miami.

It was recently announced that Messi would be leaving Paris Saint-Germain for the David Beckham-owned MLS club next month.

The Argentine is expected to sign a three-year deal with the bottom-placed side in the Eastern Conference.

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But while there are no signs of him eyeing up a return to Barcelona at this moment, former MLS stars have set a precedent which makes it quite likely.

Beckham was loaned to AC Milan shortly after signing for LA Galaxy, while Frank Lampard returned to the Premier League with Manchester City after leaving Chelsea for New York City. And there are plenty of other examples.

Plus, according to French outlet L'Equipe, Inter Miami proposed the idea of Messi returning to Barcelona in negotiations to see off interest from other clubs.

The recent World Cup winner could use a spell at Barcelona to get ready for the Copa America in 2024 during the MLS offseason.

How much will Lionel Messi earn at Inter Miami?

Some reports put Messi's annual Inter salary at £43 million (€50m) - which would make him by far the highest-paid athlete in Miami - but a contract is still to be signed, so we don't yet know the exact details.

But we do know that his Inter Miami contract will see him earn a cut of the revenue generated by the MLS broadcaster Apple TV, who are currently in the first year of a decade-long, $2.5 billion deal.

Moreover, Adidas, who supply the league's gear, balls and footwear, have come up with a profit-sharing agreement for Messi that will see the Argentine, who signed a lifetime contract with Adidas in 2017, receive a percentage of the MLS-related profits generated by the German sportswear manufacturer.

When the World Cup winner signed for PSG, the French club reportedly sold more than one million shirts, so the income from this Adidas accord could be considerable.

There have also been reports that Messi has been given the option to purchase a stake in an MLS club - similar to the arrangement offered to David Beckham which culminated in him establishing Inter Miami.