Reports coming out of the Americas indicate that the top flight league in the United States of America, Major League Soccer, are looking to partner with global brands to finance the Lionel Messi deal.
The MLS operates in franchises, with each club being a franchise. As such, players and managers are signed to the league itself and then annexed by a franchise club.
In most cases, the franchise club goes after their preferred managers and players, submit their data (including cost of transfer) to the league leadership, who then veto the financing of the deal to bring in said manager or player.
In the case of Lionel Messi, it is David Beckham’s franchise, Inter Miami, who are pursuing the deal.
Beckham has been at the forefront of this chase which is entering its fourth summer. The former Los Angeles Galaxy star has established a good relationship with the Argentine superstar and his family. He is on especially good terms with Jorge Messi, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner’s father and agent, leading to him being able to get an audience.
Messi is currently a free agent after leaving Paris Saint-Germain following a two-year spell which saw him add three more club trophies and the World Cup to his collection to become the most decorated football player alongside Dani Alves.
His exit from the French giants is sentimental as Messi chose to leave the environment which had become toxic for him and his family following a few gaffes in the league and two knockout round exits in the UEFA Champions League.
Defeating France and upstaging the Prince of Paris, Kylian Mbappe, in the 2022 FIFA World Cup final is also reported to be among the reasons that the PSG fans turned on him after welcoming him to the club with a world record crowd.
Messi now has the pick of Saudi Arabia where Al-Hilal are looking to amp their rivalry with Al-Nassr by recreating his rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo to boost their 2030 World Cup hosting bid; Barcelona, who have just been given the green light by LaLiga for their transfer and club operation cost financing plan; and the MLS, where he will play for Inter Miami.
The Messi family enjoys spending time in the United States but the MLS remains the most disadvantaged in the bid to sign the 35-year-old forward. This is why they have contacted global brands Apple and Adidas to pitch in as they prepare an economic proposal for Messi.
Spanish journalist Guillem Balague made these claims and also stated that Inter Miami is behind the moves to onboard Apple and Adidas as financiers of the Messi deal.
