FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta has said Lionel Messi’s decision to join Inter Miami was down to the two seasons of pressure the Argentine experienced at PSG.
Speaking to Mundo Deportivo, the La Liga official revealed that a contract from Barcelona was submitted and agreed for Messi to return to Catalonia. However, Inter Miami’s managing owner Jorge Mas soon told Laporta that the 35-year-old had made the decision to move to Florida.
Laporta said: “A contract was agreed, but Jorge wanted to come talk to me and told us that he had decided to join Inter Miami because he had spent some very hard seasons in Paris, where he was under great pressure. In Miami, he would be calmer and could think about the national team.”
With Messi becoming alienated from PSG supporters despite leading the French giants to another Ligue 1 title with an incredible goalscoring and assist record, a new challenge in Inter Miami is the decision the forward decided to take rather than a return to Barcelona.
Indeed, Messi’s move to MLS with Inter Miami is being billed as the biggest transfer in the division’s history. And with the forward seemingly looking forward to moving to America, Laporta’s comments come off better for all parties involved.
Messi choosing Inter Miami over Barcelona is massive for MLS
Messi looked destined to return to Barcelona this summer despite the club’s financial issues. However, with president Laporta now saying that the player personally chose to sign for Inter Miami, this statement is a huge win for MLS.
As we know, the division is now set to undergo a huge transformation with Messi now joining the league this week. And with the forward opting to make the move on his own accord rather than return to Barcelona, this will only raise the profile of MLS beyond it’s current heights.
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