After days of speculations and hectic transfer parleys, legendary forward Lionel Messi has joined Major League Soccer (MLS) side Inter Miami, with Barcelona missing out on a homecoming deal for the World Cup winner.
In what has sent football fans into a tizzy, legendary forward Lionel Messi has snubbed Barcelona and joined Major League Soccer (MLS) giants Inter Miami. An official announcement of the Argentine's move to the United States is expected in the next few hours.
Also read: Lionel Messi will play for Inter Miami in MLS next season; heartbreak for Barcelona fans
According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, "Lionel Messi to Inter Miami, here we go! The decision has been made and it will be announced by Leo in the next hours #InterMiami. Messi will play in MLS next season. No more chances for Barcelona despite trying to make it happen."
"Lionel Messi will clarify the reasons and details of his decision to join Inter Miami in the next hours. Deal will be valid with immediate effect as Jorge Messi is planning to travel to Miami later tonight," the transfer guru added.
Messi has been the subject of much speculation on the matter in recent days, with Barcelona, Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia and Inter Miami all interested in securing the Argentine's services ahead of next season. However, the David Beckham co-owned side have got the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner's signature.
The news has sparked a massive reaction on Twitter, with fans of Al-Nassr star and Messi's arch-rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, trolling the World Cup 2022 winner for choosing to move to MLS instead of joining a club in Europe or Saudi Pro League.
BREAKING: For the First time since 2003 we won’t be seeing both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in the UCL.
It was special pic.twitter.com/fs4kEKoLP7
"Messi saw Ronaldo, Benzema and Kante in the Arabian league and decided to run away from 200M to MLS. Inter Miami that is last but 3," said one Ronaldo fan on Twitter, while another added, "Messi joined inter Miami instead of Saudi just because he cannot bear living under the shadow of Cristiano Ronaldo once again. Even your goat knows who the real GOAT is."
Argentina's World Cup 2022-winning captain was eager to finalise his choice this week, even though father and agent Jorge Messi on Monday indicated his son intended to play for Barcelona next season. Barcelona was unable to assure Messi that they would be able to sign him for the upcoming season due to their salary cap limits, which seems to have been the deciding factor.
According to reports, Inter Miami's landmark deal with Messi will include a percentage of the money that sponsors of the league will make from his arrival. The former PSG star will earn money from both Adidas and Apple TV as part of the agreement.
Here's a look at some of the memes that carpet bombed Lionel Messi by Cristiano Ronaldo fans following his move to Inter Miami:
MLS at 35 years old 😭 My goat was breaking records at that age in Serie A https://t.co/pUGdtisXx2 pic.twitter.com/F4rnqrVXnv
— Farret (@Farret13Tejeda)meanwhile Ronaldo at 35 : https://t.co/Ot7sCEwipd pic.twitter.com/lwhfE5EzfA
— golden boy (@yvss1ne)Ronaldo at 36😭😭😭 levels https://t.co/kzN7arH743 pic.twitter.com/g0rDKPT5uM
— gio (@giojuve2107)Messi getting shot ? https://t.co/jGTX1lOZ2o pic.twitter.com/4KSUsbbBTI
— Bright (@callme_dcb7)Players who don’t play for a European club can’t win ballon dor https://t.co/Kdl5cTZy5d pic.twitter.com/cpR3BKUY1e
— Tinted Windows (@ChrisFlaire)We wasn’t finished at 35 pic.twitter.com/FiQl4VrJ8u https://t.co/RCL1g8XNnW
— Wiz (@wizzybands)The era has officially ended. https://t.co/8S9uTjAYFy pic.twitter.com/7v2oIZQRqi
— Peter (@peter_belfort)Al Nassar vs Inter Miami !!! Here we Go https://t.co/qoqrXumdlE pic.twitter.com/rHHw9RIFNW
— Ñæś👑drèàmvîllè1💜 (@Dreamvillenaes1)Ronaldo : Messi I’m inviting u to Saudi so that we continue our rivalry
Messi : ok sure I will join Al Hilal this window
Ronaldo : Ooh shid , why can I see Here we Go post by Fabrizio with a photo of u heading to Inter Miami ?? Are u afraid of the rivalry
Messi : 👇 pic.twitter.com/uiu4OEzU4h
Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia and Messi in America.
This truly is the end of an era pic.twitter.com/9miztziAOd
Lionel Messi fans really made fun of Cristiano Ronaldo for going to Saudi only for Messi to end up in a worse place. 😂 pic.twitter.com/UTuDccZF4F
— The CR7 Timeline. (@TimelineCR7)Messi saw Ronaldo, Benzema and Kante in the Arabian league and decided to run away from 200M to MLS 🤣 Inter Miami that is last but 3 pic.twitter.com/4sECZiadvQ
— TWO TERTY (@Aboa_Banku1)Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi at 35.
Levels to this game. pic.twitter.com/GOJHMdqwY9
Cristiano Ronaldo at the age of 35 was still competing at a high level at Juventus and was later signed by United, Messi at that age retired in the United States.
pic.twitter.com/cBs8lUWCd1
Messi To Inter Miami🇺🇸
Becoming First Ever Player To Bring Ballon D'or To USA🇺🇸
Playing One Full Season With Inter Miami🇺🇸
Get Loaned Backed To Barcelona🇪🇸
Winning Another UCL With Barcelona🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/VAGLBanZGQ
New drug dealers at the town 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/qvjqMmWPvG
— Troll Football (@Troll_Fotballl)If Messi wins the league title with this Inter Miami team then it'll be a bigger achievement than anything Ronaldo has done in his whole career pic.twitter.com/rua1esHBYw
— Troll Football (@Troll_Fotballl)