All eyes on Inter Miami! Lionel Messi’s PSG contract ends as soccer world waits for superstar’s impending MLS move to be made official… while Barcelona plans his testimonial
- Lionel Messi’s deal with Paris Saint-Germain has officially come to an end
- Confirmation of Messi’s Miami move, while set to be a formality, has yet to come
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
The soccer world very much has its eyes on what Inter Miami is going to announce next with Lionel Messi‘s move to the club expected to be officially confirmed now his deal with Paris Saint-Germain has ended.
The Argentine superstar confirmed he will be moving to the MLS team David Beckham co-owns at the start of June but an official announcement with a finalized deal, while set to be a formality, has yet to come.
He remained contracted to French giants PSG until June 30, making him a free agent today.
In a statement with Mundo Deportivo on June 7 Messi said: ‘I’m not going back to Barca, I’m going to Inter Miami.
‘I made the decision that I’m going 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.
Lionel Messi’s deal with French soccer giants Paris Saint-Germain deal has officially ended
Argentine superstar confirmed he will be moving to Inter Miami, who David Beckham co-owns
‘If the Barcelona thing didn’t come out, I wanted to leave Europe, get out of the spotlight and think more in my family.’
MLS commissioner Don Garber created excitement Friday by saying the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner is going to be announced as an Inter Miami player ‘really soon’.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Garber said: ‘We continue to work to finalize all aspects of our arrangement with and look forward to making some announcements really soon.
‘Couldn’t be more excited – the best player that has ever played the game picking Major League Soccer as his league of choice.
‘I think it’s a great testament of where MLS is on the global soccer football landscape. Also great testament to Inter Miami, their ambition and what they are trying to do to build the sport in the south part of Florida.
‘He (Messi) is very supportive, passionate – it is going to be a great moment for soccer in north America.’
Miami must pick up points and fast. They host Austin in MLS tonight following the arrival of new head coach Tata Martino.
Miami are last in the Eastern Conference, 11 points adrift of the playoffs, losing the last seven MLS games and have a miserable tally of 15 points from 18 games.
MLS commissioner Don Garber gave a confident update Friday about Messi’s move to America
Messi’s debut is expected to come in cup action on July 21.
As fans wait for Messi’s Miami move to be confirmed, Barcelona are planning the club legend’s testimonial.
The 36-year-old had all-but ruled out a move to the US after his family set their heart on a fairytale return to Barcelona, but that became impossible because of the club’s financial situation – and the player has decided to take the Miami offer over the astronomical sums proposed by Al-Hilal.
Messi and his wife Antonella Roccuzzo reportedly don’t want to settle in Saudi Arabia
Messi looked devastated as he bid farewell to Barcelona in 2021 but he could get a testimonial
But Messi could finally get the chance to bid farewell to his beloved Barcelona properly.
He is still smarting from the summer of 2021 when he came back from his holiday in Ibiza to sign a new Barcelona contract only to be told by the Catalan club that it had been taken off the table because of financial problems.
‘I agreed with them [Messi’s representatives] to make a tribute. The opening day of the Spotify Camp Nou would be an excellent date,’ Barcelona president Joan Laporta told TV3.
‘Messi wanted to come back to Barca. He had a tough time in Paris. His father told me he he didn’t want the pressure. We, the Barca fans, respect that. May he do well in Miami.’
