Explained: Why Lionel Messi chose David Beckham's Inter Miami over a Barca return

Ditching a lucrative offer from Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal and instead of returning to Barcelona FC, Lionel Messi has decided to lend his stardom and skills to Major League Soccer (MSL) team Inter Miami. Here's a quick look at what went down

By Brian Carvalho Editor, Forbes India

Published: Jun 8, 2023 07:05:46 PM IST

Updated: Jun 8, 2023 07:09:40 PM IST

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A file photo of Lionel Messi of Barcelona FC celebrates scoring his side's first goal during the UEFA Champions League in 2017 in Barcelona, Spain. Image: Alex Caparros/Getty Images

Germ of a reunion

Javier Mascherano, Lionel Messi, Neymar, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, and Daniel Alves of FC Barcelona posing with the Cup after winning the UEFA Champions League final match between Barcelona and Juventus on June 6, 2015, at the Olympic stadium in Berlin, Germany. Image: VI Images via Getty Images

After leaving French club Paris Saint-Germain, where he played two seasons, Lionel Messi’s options included a return to the club with which he had spent his entire professional career since 2004, before leaving in 2021. With FC Barcelona, Messi won a record 34 trophies—10 La Liga titles, seven Copa del Reys and four UEFA Champions leagues.

Hope in the air

Joan Laporta, President of FC Barcelona. Image: Marc Graupera Alomá / AFP7 via Getty Images

Barca and Messi fans were hoping for a miracle; and earlier in the week when Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, the go-to person for football transfer news, tweeted that Messi’s dad Jorge Messi and Barcelona President Joan Laporta were in talks, there was hope in the air. “Leo wants to return to Barcelona and I’d love to see him back to Barca,” Romano tweeted, quoting Messi Sr. “Barca move is an option for sure,” added Jorge.

Also read: 'We can dream again': The song that marked Argentina's World Cup campaign

Hopes dashed

Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham and general view of DRV PNK Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, FL, US. Images: Doug Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images and Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY SportsImage

That sliver of expectation quickly fizzled out when Jorge informed Laporta of Messi’s decision to join Inter Miami, the American Major League Soccer team co-owned by David Beckham. Messi explained to Spanish news outlet Mundo Deportivo the reason for declining the Barca offer.

Messi's Empathy

Argentina's Lionel Messi with his father Jorge Messi. Images: Robert Michael/dpa via Getty Images and Jean Catuffe/Getty Images

“Although I heard that LaLiga had accepted everything and that everything was fine for me to come back, there were still many other things that needed to happen. I heard that Barcelona had to sell players or reduce players’ salaries, and the truth is that I didn’t want to go through that or take responsibility for something related to all of that. I have already been accused of many things that were not true in my career at Barcelona, and I was already a bit tired; I didn’t want to go through all of that. Although I would have loved to, it couldn’t be done,” Messi told Mundo Deportivo.

Also read: Lionel Messi: One of football's top earners at $110 million

It wasn't about the money

Fans outside Al-Hilal Football Club, Riyadh, Saudia Arabia. Image: Ahmed Yosri / Reuters

"If it had been a matter of money, I’d have gone to Arabia or elsewhere. It seemed like a lot of money to me," Messi reportedly said. "The truth is that my final decision goes elsewhere, and not because of money."

Messi turned down a huge offer—reportedly of over $500 million—from Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia to make his move across the Atlantic a reality.

Solace for Barca fans

Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring during the La Liga match between Barcelona and Real Madrid at Camp Nou on May 6, 2018, in Barcelona, Spain. Image: David Ramos/Getty Images

As reported on the FC Barcelona website, Laporta and Jorge Messi agreed to work together to “promote a proper tribute from Barça fans to honour a footballer who has been, is, and always will be beloved by Barça.”