Messi confirms Inter Miami move

Tom Hancock

• Updated: 7 Jun 2023 21:28 BST
• 3 min read

Lionel Messi has confirmed that he will join Inter Miami this summer.

In a joint interview which ended speculation over his future, the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner told Spanish newspapers SPORT and Mundo Deportivo why he chose to move to MLS club over a switch to the Saudi Pro League, having been unable to return to Barcelona. He said:

"After winning the World Cup and not being able to go to Barca, I had to go to the league of the United States [MLS] to experience football in a different way."

MORE: ‘People act like he died or something’ – Fans react to Messi’s Inter Miami move

Messi's confirmation comes amid reports that Saudi giants Al-Hilal had made him a last-ditch offer worth €500m to lure him to the Gulf state.

But it seems that Miami was the only realistic destination for Argentina's World Cup-winning captain, who turns 36 in just over a fortnight's time. Asked about the possibility of a second spell with Barca – who he left two years ago when the club's financial struggles rendered them unable to afford to keep him – Messi explained:

"I wanted to return – I was very excited to be able to return – but after having experienced what I experienced and the exit I had, I did not want to be in the same situation again: waiting to see what was going to happen and leaving my future in the hands of another.

"I heard that they [Barcelona] had to sell players or lower players' salaries, and the truth is that I didn't want to go through that.

"I made the decision to go to Miami. I still haven't closed it one hundred percent. I'm missing some things, but we decided to continue on the path. If the Barcelona thing didn't work out, I wanted to leave Europe, get out of the spotlight and think more of my family."

MORE: Messi signs for America’s worst team, Ronaldo joined Saudi Arabia’s best

The end of an era

Messi's move to the USA means that for the first time in 21 years, neither he nor his old La Liga rival Cristiano Ronaldo – who joined Saudi outfit Al-Nassr in January – will be playing in Europe.

After making his Barca first-team debut way back in 2004, Messi went on to establish himself as arguably the greatest player of all time, banging in 672 goals in 778 appearances for the Blaugrana.

His time at PSG was considerably less prolific, but he still managed to add another 32 goals in 75 appearances to take his career total past 800.

More to follow...