Messi disappointment as Inter Miami transfer falls through... for now

Robin Bairner

27 Jul 2023 11:35 BST
3 min read

Lionel Messi, Inter Miami, 2023 — © ProShots

Lionel Messi will be denied the reunion with former Barcelona teammate Luis Suarez, with a transfer to bring the Uruguay legend to Inter Miami falling through – at least for the moment.

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Although Suarez is set to remain in Brazil with Gremio until 2024, the former Liverpool hitman expects to join Messi at Inter Miami in time for the beginning of the next MLS season.

It had previously been rumoured that an injury might force him into a premature retirement, the 36-year-old has sufficiently regained fitness to be linked with a move to the Florida outfit.

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Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba have already joined Messi at Inter Miami, but it appears that this could be as far as the Barcelona reunion goes – at least for the summer.

“He will stay with us until December,” Renato Gaucho told SporTV prior to the Brazilian Cup match that Gremio lost 2-0 against Flamengo.

“Since he joined, he has made the difference. We were talking about a Mexican novella, but this soap opera is over. Without a doubt, he has been a source of joy for the club and for our supporters.”

Suarez has been a huge hit in Brazil, where he has plundered 16 goals and nine assists in 32 appearances, leading to record shirt sales for the Porto Alegre side.

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David Beckham’s MLS franchise, though, are not prepared to pay the veteran’s €70 million release clause – the only way Gremio were prepared to allow him to leave the club this summer.

Suarez had also offered to repay all the wages he has earned at the club since January in order to force a deal through, but it was not to be.

Inter Miami are hopeful that he will have the same type of impact as Messi if and when he joins the club.

Messi has played less than two hours of football for the club but has already scored three goals and created another, inspiring his team to two wins from as many matches after a winless stretch of 11 in MLS.