Lionel Messi SHUNS Barcelona and Saudi Arabia To Join Inter Miami In MLS.

 Argentina legend Lionel Messi will join David Beckham's Inter Miami after reaching an agreement in principle with the American side.

The transfer sees him shun top European leagues and a Saudi mega-deal in a shocking move that will arguably bring the highest-profile football player to North American soil.

Messi's two-year contract with French club Paris Saint-Germain comes to an end this summer, and both parties have agreed to go their separate ways, with the forward suspended for two weeks in May for an unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia.

He left his boyhood club Barcelona in 2021, after 21 years with the Spanish giants, because of the club's financial problems.

Messi is Barcelona's record scorer with 672 goals and won 10 La Liga titles, four Champions Leagues and seven Spanish Cups.

His time in France can't be classified as a huge success, as he departs PSG having won the Ligue 1 in both his seasons at the club but went out in the Champions League last 16.

He netted 32 goals in 75 games for the club - and ended this season with 16 goals and 16 assists in Ligue 1.

Messi was keen to remain in Europe for another season but, after no satisfactory offers were received, he had the straight choice between Inter Miami or Al-Hilal.

The 35-year-old, was heavily tipped to be favouring a move to Saudi Arabia, where he would have joined Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, but he reportedly rejected the lucrative offer from Saudi's Al-Hilal.

Reigning Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema signed with Saudi club al-Ittihad yesterday for a reported nine-figure sum, after leaving Real Madrid.

Messi's former club Barca, also made a move for his possible return to the Camp Nou this summer but the Financial Fair Play (FFP) limitations that will be in place for next season in La Liga made any ambitious plan to bring him back an impossibility.

He was ultimately tempted to Major League Soccer (MLS) side Inter Miami for a variety of reasons including lifestyle, and a deal with big brands that extends beyond football.M

According to reports, the Miami deal includes collaboration from top brands like; television partner Apple and clothing sponsor Adidas each offering Messi profit sharing agreements to sweeten the deal.

He already owns a house in Miami, which he rents out.

Inter Miami are part-owned by David Beckham, one of the few footballers who can rival Messi for global fame. 

The last time the league attracted a player of Messi’s fame was when Beckham joined Los Angeles Galaxy in 2007.

Considered by many to be the greatest player ever, Messi is a record seven-time Ballon d'Or winner and the reigning Golden Ball winner for leading his country Argentina to victory at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.