Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas has confessed he is feeling good about his side's chances of convincing Barcelona forward Lionel Messi to join the club in the near future.
A free agent this summer, Messi is understood to be discussing a ten-year contract with Barcelona that would see him move to Major League Soccer in 2023, before returning to Camp Nou in an ambassadorial role two years later.
Inter Miami have long been fighting for a spot at the front of the queue for his signature, and the excitement stepped up even more with the news that Messi recently splashed a cool $7m on a condo in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida.
Speaking to the Miami Herald, Mas admitted he is confident that Messi will sign for the club in 2023, with the deal being in everyone's best interests.
"David [Beckham] and I have been working really hard, we have aspirations of bringing the best players here and Leo Messi is a generational player, arguably the best player of all time,” Mas said.
"I am optimistic Messi will play in an Inter Miami shirt because I think it will complete the legacy of the greatest player in our generation and will meet with the ambitions of the owners of Inter Miami to build a world class team."
Messi has always admitted his desire to spend time in MLS before his career comes to a close, and his determination to insert a two-year loan clause in any new contract he signs with Barcelona suggests he is ready to act on that wish.
How Inter Miami would afford Messi's wages remains to be seen. They were recently hit with a hefty $2m fine after being found to he breached league spending rules with the signing of French midfielder Blaise Matuidi and Colombian defender Andres Reyes, who were not declared as designated players despite earing above the general salary cap.
There could be some financial help tied in to this new Barcelona contract, which Marca note is not actually a formal offer yet.
That's not really a surprise, however. Given discussions revolve around a ten-year contract involving two clubs and a change of job midway through, it's hardly a shock to see everyone involved trying to iron out the details before making anything official.
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This article was originally published on 90min as Inter Miami owner 'optimistic' about signing Lionel Messi.
Source: www.90min.com