By Victor Kanayo
Argentina star, Lionel Messi, is almost certain of leaving PSG, and is close to agreeing a deal with MLS side Inter Miami.
Messi, who scored in Argentina’s 2-0 win over Mexico at the World Cup on Saturday, will become the highest-paid player in MLS history if the deal go through.
Messi, 35, is currently understood to be on a salary of around £1.2m-a-week and would take a pay cut at the Florida franchise, which is co-owned by David Beckham.
Messi’s current contract with PSG expires at the end of the season.
David Beckham co-owns Inter Miami and has reportedly been key in the deal, using his relationships with PSG and Messi himself.
Messi has a home in Miami and is known to regularly holiday there.
The club are already thought to be identifying players who will fit with the forward’s style of play with former Barcelona team-mates Luis Suarez and Cesc Fabregas under consideration.
Inter Miami are managed by Beckham’s former Manchester United team-mate Phil Neville, who has just signed a contract extension.
In September, the club was cleared to start construction on a £820m stadium complex, which will include a 25,000-seat stadium, a 750-room hotel, playing fields and an underground car park.
According to The Times, Beckham’s links to Qatar are believed to be a fundamental part of the Messi deal.
An ambassador for the host nation at the World Cup, Beckham, is directly linked to the owners of PSG, Qatar Sports Investment, as well as the club’s president Nasser Al-Khelaifi.
Furthermore, the relationship between Messi and the former England captain has grown, thanks to their longstanding association with Adidas.
