DAVID Beckham may finally have landed his man.
Reports in France claim PSG talisman Lionel Messi, 35, is seriously mulling over his future – with Inter Miami in pole position for his signature.
The World Cup winner has yet to sign a new deal – with his current contract expiring in the summer.
England legend Becks, 47, has wanted to bring Messi to the MLS ever since he founded the club FIVE years ago.
Messi’s arrival in the US would be the biggest deal since Beckham moved from Real Madrid to LA Galaxy in 2012.
And it would be a massive boon to the Latin American community in the Magic City, who would have ‘one of their own’ to revere.
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The pledge
A year before Inter Miami made their MLS debut in 2020, Beckham refused to rule out the possibility of signing Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi.
“Everyone has their wish list, everyone does, but if you look at the way Leo and Cristiano are still playing, even at what you might think is the later stage of their careers, I don’t see it ending for them,” Beckham said.
“They’re playing at such a high level that it’s hard to see them leaving the clubs they are at, but we will see. You never know what can happen in football.”
Beckham cleverly planted the seed. Who wouldn’t want South Beach on their doorstep?
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There was talk Messi would quit Barcelona and head straight to the States.
However, the Argentine superstar opted for Paris instead – with a view of a World Cup on the horizon and one last attempt at capturing his holy grail.
Beckham was left waiting.
In the meantime…
Messi had begun to build a property empire in Miami – with belief around him that he wanted to finish his career in the MLS.
A year before Inter Miami’s debut campaign, he splashed around £5.5million on a stunning apartment on Sunny Isles Beach.
It boasted access to six swimming pools, a luxury spa, fully-equipped gym, and a yoga studio.
Two years later he added to his incredible property portfolio by snapping up the entire 9th floor of the Regalia building – a structure designed by renowned architect Charles Allem.
Called the “mansion in the sky in the most unique building in South Florida,” the six bedroom abode cost him around £9million.
Reports claimed he sold the Sunny Isles penthouse for a whopping profit of around £17million.
While another suggested he had listed his second Miami property, although it was never confirmed if it was sold.
However, in November last year, Messi bought an apartment at the Porsche Design Tower for £9million- which boasts stunning views of the Miami coastline, as well a lift for one of his supercars.
Inter Miami ‘confident’ in signing Messi
With Messi achieving his career odyssey of winning the World Cup with his country – coupled with current disgruntlement at his French employers PSG – Inter Miami are reportedly confident of convincing Messi to join their revolution.
A move could happen as soon as the current European football season comes to a close.
In the past, the forward has revealed the prospect of strutting his stuff in the MLS would be a “dream”.
It would, no doubt, making the highest paid player in the league’s history.
While it would also ring true on Beckham’s promise to deliver a star to Inter Miami fans.
South Florida boasts a huge Latin American population – many mad football fans.
The move would certainly appease the locals, who will flock to the DRV PNK Stadium in their droves to catch a glimpse of the football superstar – just like Angelinos made the pilgrimage to Carson to see Beckham in action for the LA Galaxy 15 years ago.
What signing Messi would mean to the MLS
Cristiano Ronaldo’s big-money move to Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr has been viewed by football purists as the Portuguese legend looking for his retirement home.
Would Messi’s move to the MLS be seen as the same?
The USA’s ever-improving performances at the World Cup have shown that ‘soccer’ is well and truly a sport the country loves.
Also, with parents growingly concerned about the impact head injuries might have on their kids playing American football, many are choosing for their sons and daughters to play the beautiful game.
Before, it was cast-offs from the Premier League that went to the US for one final pay day.
Now, the likes of Tyler Adams, Christian Pulisic and Brendan Aaronsen are looking the part in our competitive league.
For the moment, the big push for the MLS is the importance of bringing in youth players, a model Inter Miami boss Phil Neville is keen to follow.
“MLS is a young person’s league. Some of the best young players are coming through the academies. We’re a club that wants to produce our own players,” Neville told the Guardian in 2021.
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Still, the lure of bringing the world’s greatest player, even when he turns 36 in the summer, would be too much to turn down.
And just think how inspirational he could be to those young footballers desperate to make their name in the game.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
