Manchester City were pushed forward as favourites to sign Lionel Messi in the summer before the Barcelona superstar made a U-turn and decided to continue at the Camp Nou.
The 33-year-old has over six months left on his contract and during a recent interview with La Sexta, he stated a decision on his future will be taken at the end of this season.
In the same interview, the forward talked about his desire to play in the United States in the future.
Catalan Journalist Jose Antonio Ponseti is based in Miami, and he has discussed Messi’s future on Ser, relayed in today’s Mundo Deportivo.
According to him, the Argentina international’s wish is to continue at the Catalan club until 2023 and then move to MLS, where David Beckham’s Inter Miami are looking to tempt the star.
This would help him arrive at the Qatar World Cup in 2022 in the ‘best conditions’ and then move to Miami. The journalist also reveals the player has brought a luxury apartment in Miami, costing between €7m and €9m.
Pep Guardiola’s side and Paris Saint-Germain get a mention, and it’s claimed Messi ‘had the option’ of joining the Citizens, and the Ligue 1 winners have him in the list of transfer targets.
Manchester City and PSG are now viewed as ‘demanding destinations’ because they would want Messi to lead their project and help them win the Champions League, something neither of the two clubs have done so far.
Messi will have to carefully evaluate joining either City or PSG next summer because moving to Manchester or Paris will also mean he will have to move his family away from Barcelona.
If this report is to believed, the aforementioned factors could see Messi continue at Barcelona until 2023 and then move to Miami, where he already has a luxury apartment.
