Five clubs Lionel Messi could join next including PSG, Man City, Chelsea and David Beckham’s Inter Miami
LIONEL MESSI will leave Barcelona after more than two decades at the club, a bombshell statement confirmed yesterday.
The Argentine magician has sparked a frenzy among Europe’s biggest clubs and some other teams around the world, too.
The 34-year-old free agent is not short of potential suitors to continue his stellar career.
Here, SunSport looks at five possible destinations for Messi.
PSG
This one seems the most likely and reports say there’s already been contact with representatives from both sides.
It would also mean a reunion with his former Barcelona team-mate Neymar.
The fallen French champions have been on a massive recruitment drive this summer in a bid to regain their domestic crown and finally win the Champions League.
Already on board this summer are Sergio Ramos, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Achraf Hakimi, Georginio Wijnaldum and Danilo Pereira.
Messi wouldn’t be a bad addition to that list.
Man City
If Messi is on his way to the Premier League then no club would fit the bill more than Manchester City.
The Etihad side came close to landing him last summer before a U-turn kept him at Barcelona.
But now he could be up for grabs again and reunite with Pep Guardiola in Manchester.
City have just signed Jack Grealish for £100m and have their eyes on Harry Kane, too.
What a line-up that would be.
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Chelsea
The European champions are flush with money and looking to invest in their squad this summer.
Thomas Tuchel’s men have been linked with a £100m move for Romelu Lukaku from Inter Milan to help with their scoring problems.
And they would have no trouble unlocking defences with Messi lining up in blue.
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Inter Miami
Don’t rule out a move to the MLS for Messi, and David Beckham’s Inter Miami are first in the queue.
Becks has previously said he wants to bring top players to the new American franchise.
And the team’s co-owner Jorge Mas even said earlier this summer: “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.”
As for Messi, who owns property in Miami, well he said last year: “I always said that I have the impression that I would like to enjoy the experience of living in the United States, of living in that league and that life.”
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Newell’s Old Boys
Messi left his boyhood club in Argentina aged just 13 to move to Barcelona.
And he could be set for a glorious homecoming to see out his playing days back home.
The club clearly want him back and showed their sense of humour after Barca’s announcement on Thursday.
They tweeted a reply to Barcelona’s statement with a message: “Hi God, it’s me again.”