The new Beckham? MLS' plan to win Lionel Messi

Jacque Talbot

• Updated: 11 Mar 2023 11:45 GMT
• 3 min read

The MLS is planning to draw Lionel Messi away from Paris Saint-Germain and meetings took place between Inter Miami and the star during the World Cup in Qatar.

L’Equipe reports that the States’ highest tier of football has the ambition to bring in the superstar and will look to do what they did when they convinced David Beckham to play for the LA Galaxy in 2007.

Is it thought they could offer a ‘package’ to the Argentine - something that could include real estate around the club's new stadium, which is due to open in 2025 in Miami.

READ MORE: Watch out Mbappe! PSG man not Real Madrid's only Benzema alternative

The report also states that Messi appreciates the country and often visits Florida, where he bought a luxurious apartment in April 2021.

Jerome Meary, an agent with ties to the MLS, told the French publication: “He has clearly become the number one priority of Jorge Mas, the main owner of Inter Miami. The first discussions date back to June 2021, before Messi signed with PSG.

"The exchanges have since resumed, Mas in particular spent a lot of time with Messi's entourage during the World Cup in Qatar in December".

The MLS has significant salary constraints but does have with it a ‘designated player’ rule, which allows each franchise to pay three players above league-mandated caps. It’s how Toronto FC signed Italian Lorenzo Insigne, who is salaried €13 million a year.

Indeed, the move may not be dissimilar to Beckham, who received €32.5m on a five-year salary.

The former Manchester United player set up Inter Miami in 2018 and the club is now valued at €562m. The club have publicly stated their desire to sign Messi, whose deal runs out at PSG in June.

“Beyond a significant salary, he could be offered his own franchise in the future, or obtain shares in Inter Miami, ” continued Meary. “He has on the one hand an interesting sporting project at PSG, and on the other his heart which is in Barcelona. The probability that he chooses MLS remains low.”

Already American brands such as Pepsi and Hard Rock Cafe restaurant have signed deals with Messi, whose brand is well-known in the States.

The crisis engulfing PSG is well-documented. There have been reports that even Neymar will be shown the exit.

But the club will be doing everything to ensure that Kylian Mbappe remains at the Parc des Princes.