Lionel Messi is set to reject a return to Barcelona as he prepares for life after PSG
LIONEL MESSI is said to be making plans for his departure from PSG next summer.
Messi is the world's highest-paid athlete, with Ronaldo also ranking among the top ten.
Lionel Messi is rumored to be leaving PSG for an ambitious project at Inter Miami next summer. Messi signed a two-year contract with PSG after leaving Barcelona last summer, but he is already planning his next move, with a move to the United States being considered, according to reports.
The 34-year-old playmaker has had a disappointing debut season in Paris, In 26 Ligue 1 appearances, he scored six goals. PSG won the Ligue 1 title under Mauricio Pochettino in April, but they were knocked out of the Champions League by Real Madrid in dramatic circumstances, and there is a sense that the club has yet to get the best out of Messi.
Messi has been linked with a return to Barcelona since his arrival in Paris, owing in part to his hesitant departure amid Barca's financial difficulties. Such speculation has been fueled by the Argentine's father, Jorge, who stated that he "hopes" his son will return to Barcelona "one day."
However, that is not the only possible destination for Messi when his contract with PSG expires in June 2023. He's also been linked to Inter Miami, a new MLS team that he owns a stake in.
According to Alex Candal of DIRECTV Sports, Messi has already agreed to join Inter Miami next summer. He will not only play for the team, which is managed by former Manchester United defender and England women's coach Phil Neville, but he will also own 35% of the club. That possibility has been met with some opposition. According to Diario Sport, Messi's entourage has labeled the report as "fake news," while insisting that the plan is not currently on the table.
Messi has vacationed in Florida with his family and has previously spoken about the allure of moving to the United States to play in Major League Soccer before retiring. ""I've always wanted to enjoy and have the experience of living in the United States, to see what the league is like," he told Spanish TV station La Sexta last year.
It's a mutual attraction, as Miami co-owner and executive director Jorge Mas mentioned earlier this year. In February, he told the Miami Herald, "Leo Messi is still one of the best players in the world, his skills have not diminished."
"I believe, and David [Beckham] has a relationship with him, that if he leaves PSG, we would love to have Messi as a player at Inter Miami and be a part of our community at the time he leaves PSG. Is it possible? We will make an effort. I'm at heart - can I see it happening? It's a possibility."
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