REVEALED: Inter Miami negotiated to sign Messi for three years

Cameron Smith

• 3 Jul 2023 13:18 BST
• 3 min read

Inter Miami FC owner Jorge Mas has admitted that Lionel Messi’s transfer to the MLS took three years of negotiating and began while he was still at Barcelona.

Messi, 36, rejected interest from Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal and his former club Barca to join Inter Miami this summer, with the World Cup winner signing a contract that runs until the end of 2025.

Mas spoke to Spanish newspaper El Pais and revealed the lengths it took to bring Messi to the club. “In 2019, we started thinking about how we could bring him,” he said.

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“I spent three years on it, a year-and-a-half [working] very intensely. There were many conversations with [Messi's father and agent] Jorge. [Inter Miami co-owner] David [Beckham] talked to Leo, only about football issues, because he was a player."

"I saw it as done at the end of May," Mas admitted "I didn't want him to feel under pressure. We had spoken in Barcelona, Miami, Rosario, and Doha. I spent the whole World Cup in Qatar, watching Argentina.”

One major facet of Messi’s contract at Inter Miami is the deal that was struck with Apple.

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The American company is the MLS’ broadcast partner and they will be airing a four-part documentary about Messi’s journey from his first World Cup appearance in 2006 to lifting the trophy in 2022. It will air on AppleTV+ and was “very important to close the deal,” according to Mas.

Messi was linked with joining Inter Miami back in 2021, but he decided to sign for Paris Saint-Germain instead. A reunion with Pep Guardiola was also on the cards, but he rejected interest from Manchester City to move to France.

However, after 32 goals and 35 assists in 75 appearances, it became clear that Messi would leave the French capital this summer, prompting Inter Miami to act fast and secure his signature.

Messi to be joined by former teammates?

Sergio Busquets, who played with Messi at Barcelona, has already been signed by Inter Miami and the pair could soon be joined by Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba. Messi’s international teammate Angel Di Maria is also wanted by the MLS side.

"He [Suarez] is under contract, he has a clause, and I don't know if this will materialise," Mas said. "We have also spoken to Di Maria but it seems that he is about to sign for another team."