Football Star Lionel Messi on Wednesday astonished many by announcing that he would begin the next phase of his career not in Saudi Arabia, nor other European countries, but rather in the United States, by joining the Major League Soccer (MLS) team, Inter Miami.
The football world was impatiently anticipating Messi’s decision after PSG confirmed this week the playmaker, widely considered the best player in the history of football, was leaving.
Messi, who has won the Ballon d’Or as the world’s best player seven times, said, “After winning the World Cup and not being able to return to Barcelona, it was my turn to go to the League of the United States to live football in another way.”
“I really wanted to return to Barcelona, I had that dream. But after what happened two years ago, I did not want to be in the same situation again, leaving my future in the hands of someone else… I wanted to take my own decision, thinking of me and my family” he said regarding returning to Barcelona.
“I heard reports of La Liga giving the green light but the truth is that many, many things were still missing to make my return to Barcelona happen. I didn’t want to be responsible for them to sell players or reduce salaries. I was tired” he also said.
“Money has never been an issue with me. We didn’t even discuss the contract with Barcelona! They sent me a proposal but was never an official, written and signed proposal. We never negotiated my salary. It wasn’t about money or I was going to join Saudi”.
“I’m sure that there are people in the club that do not want me to return to Barcelona, considering that a negative impact for the club,” the Ballon d’Or holder said.
“I received bids from other European clubs… but I didn’t even consider those proposals because my only idea was to join Barcelona in Europe”.
“I’d love to be close to Barcelona in the future, for sure. I will still live in Barcelona with my family, it’s already decided. I hope to help the club one day because it’s the club I love”. He finally said.
The 35-year-old Argentine forward chose a move to the United States, choosing it as his next destination instead of a potential reunion with Barcelona or a deal to play in Saudi Arabia.
Messi, who spent the past two seasons with Paris Saint-Germain, played his final game for the club on Saturday, concluding his tenure after he departs from Barcelona in 2021, where he had spent the majority of his career.
Many well-known European and South American players have wound down their careers in the US but Messi remains at the top of his game, representing a possibly huge boost not only to struggling, Inter Miami but the league as a whole.