Lionel Messi announces he’s joining David Beckham’s Inter Miami on free transfer to end Barcelona reunion talk

Lionel Messi will be playing in MLS next season with the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner revealing he’s joining David Beckham’s Inter Miami.

It was recently announced the 35-year-old would be leaving Paris Saint-Germain after two seasons in the French capital.

It led to intense speculation he would seal an emotional return back to Barcelona, with his father meeting president Joan Laporta for talks.

But the Blaugrana do not have the funds to bring him back to the Camp Nou, leading the Argentina World Cup winner to link up with David Beckham’s Inter Miami.

talkSPORT exclusively reported the club’s desire to bring Messi to America in November.

Inter Miami, Messi and Major League Soccer have since confirmed the move will happen, subject to the formal agreement being finalised, with the global icon to become one of their designated players.

Speaking to Spanish news outlet Sport, he said: “I have taken the decision to go to [Inter] Miami.

“It’s still not closed 100 per cent, there are a few final details left, but that’s the decision we have made.”

He added: “The truth is that I had offers from another European team, but I didn’t even evaluate it because in Europe my idea was only to go to Barcelona.

“After winning the World Cup and not being able to go to Barca, it was time to go to the American league to experience football in a different way and enjoy the day-to-day.

“Obviously with the same responsibility and the same desire to want to win and to always do things well. But with more peace of mind.”

In a separate interview with Mundo Deportivo, he revealed he doesn’t believe Laporta did enough to bring him back

He remarked: “Honestly, I don’t know if he has done everything possible or not. I knew what he was talking about with Xavi, above all… now they had, by what is said, obtained the permission of the League to be able to do it.

“But I’m telling you, it wasn’t just that. Many things were missing. The club, today, was not in a position to confirm 100 per cent that I could return.

“And it is understandable, due to the situation that the club is going through, and that is how I lived it.”

The 2023 MLS season is already well under way, with Inter Miami currently sitting bottom of the Eastern Conference after 16 games played.

Their shocking form led co-owner Beckham to wield the axe on his ex-Manchester United teammate Phil Neville last week.

Beckham returned to PSG – who he retired at in 2013 – last month, where he was spotted pictured alongside Messi at the club’s training.