Lionel Messi Reportedly Joining Inter Miami

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Paris Saint-Germain V Clermont, French Ligue 1 regular season.
PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 3: Lionel Messi #30 of Paris Saint-Germain reacts as he watches his free kick saved during the Paris Saint-Germain V Clermont, French Ligue 1 regular season match at Parc des Princes on June 3, 2023, in Paris, France (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
Lionel Messi is reportedly about to bring his talents to the MLS.

The future of soccer superstar Lionel Messi has been the subject of much debate in recent months. Despite joining French giants PSG in 2021, Messi has never seemed to feel at home in Ligue 1. Despite winning the league in his first season, Messi appeared unhappy with his performance and vowed to improve. While the 2022/23 campaign brought another league title, things were falling apart behind the scenes.

Messi appeared unhappy at the club and that began to boil over into public view during and after the World Cup. First, there was Argentina's shock World Cup loss to Saudi Arabia. People were quick to note that Messi is a very vocal brand ambassador for Saudi Arabia. However, the straw that broke the camel was an unsanctioned in-season trip Messi took to the nation. Messi was officially released on June 3.

Messi To Choose Inter Miami

PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 3: Lionel Messi #30 of Paris Saint-Germain watches his free kick taken on the edge of the penalty area during the Paris Saint-Germain V Clermont, French Ligue 1 regular season match at Parc des Princes on June 3, 2023, in Paris, France (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)

Three primary candidates stood out as Messi's next destination. First, there was the possibility of a return to Barcelona, where Messi played between 2003 and 2021. Then there was a move to Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal, which would see Messi follow in the footsteps of Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema. Finally, there were reports that Messi could be joining Inter Miami, the Florida-based team owned by David Beckham.

Al Hilal appeared to be the frontrunner after making an initial offer to Messi in April. Various numbers were floated, with some going as high as $436 million a year. Elsewhere, a Barcelona reunion seemed unlikely due to the club's mounting financial problems. However, a new report suggests that Inter Miami is now the likely destination for Messi. the BBC first reported the news but at this time Inter Miami has declined comment. Despite this, ESPN has reported that sources within the Al Hilal camp expect Messi to take his talents to the MLS. This is a developing story and we'll have any updates here at HotNewHipHop.

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About The Author
Benjamin Mock (they/them) is a sports and culture writer working out of Philadelphia. Previously writing for the likes of Fixture, Dexerto, Fragster, and Jaxon, Ben has dedicated themselves to engaging and accessible articles about sports, esports, and internet culture. With a love for the weirder stories, you never quite know what to expect from their work.
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