Lionel Messi: MLS clubs join forces to sign Barcelona legend

Tom Weber

Updated: 27 Mar 2023 12:20 BST
3 min read

According to reports in Spain, Major League Soccer clubs have hatched a secret plan to bring Lionel Messi to the United States.

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The Argentine megastar is out of contract in the summer, and rumours surrounding his future have swirled incessantly. Will the PSG man stay with the French powerhouse, will he return to Barcelona or will he move somewhere completely different?

Among the latter option has been David Beckham's Inter Miami for several years. Indeed, MLS circles have been convinced for some time that arguably the greatest player of all time would head across the pond eventually.

More recently, however, reports suggested that his move to Miami was unlikely to happen, at least for now. Barcelona and PSG appeared to be the more realistic options.

READ: Qatar order PSG to re-sign Messi 'at all costs'

Now, a new twist has appeared in the Messi saga and it could be one of the most bizarre ones yet.

Pooling resources?

According to Spanish newspaper SPORT, Inter Miami can not sign Messi, citing salary issues. So in order to facilitate a move for the 35-year-old, MLS clubs are ready to pool their resources.

In other words, regardless of where Messi would eventually end up in the States - be it Miami, Los Angeles, New York or Seattle - the rest of the league would help towards paying his salary.

Individual MLS clubs do not have the capacity to pay for Leo Messi's salary. However, multiple clubs in the league have decided to pay his salary together. In this case, the player would decide if he plays for Miami, LA, or a New York Club.

— @sport pic.twitter.com/ts0FU8T6HN
— Barça Universal (@BarcaUniversal) March 27, 2023

READ: Out of contract in 2023: The best free agents available on a Bosman

Why would clubs agree to remunerate an opposition player? Because the boon to the league in terms of revenue would, according to SPORT's Albert Masnou, offset the outlay each side would have to make.

"With this formula, Leo Messi would allow them to make an important leap in quality to popularize this sport in the United States with a view to organizing the World Cup to be held in 2026."

Though bizarre, something like this is not unheard of: "It is still curious that the clubs would end up paying a salary for a player who would face their teams, although it is not crazy either because, for example, Barça paid part of [Antoine] Griezmann's salary when he played for a direct rival like Atletico Madrid."