MLS have special plan to sign Lionel Messi amid rumours of Barcelona return: Reports
As Lionel Messi’s stay at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) draws to a close, MLS are apparently considering offering him a special deal. There is a lot of interest in signing the former Barcelona superstar, whose contract with Paris Saint-Germain expires this summer.
Messi has been strongly connected with a return to Barcelona, but according to new sources from SPORT, the Blaugrana have not yet made a firm bid for the Argentine.
Individual MLS clubs do not have the capacity to pay for Leo Messi’s salary. However, multiple clubs in the league have decided to pay his salary together. In this case, the player would decide if he plays for Miami, LA, or a New York Club.
— Barça Universal (@BarcaUniversal) March 27, 2023
— @sport pic.twitter.com/ts0FU8T6HN
Only Paris Saint-Germain have reportedly made a bid for the player so far, with MLS preparing a special offer.
Due to the MLS salary cap, no club can pay Messi’s full salary. So they came up with a new strategy to lure him to America. It was recently decided that if a player chooses to join the league, wages will be jointly managed by all MLS clubs.
The deal will see Messi pick the teams he wants to play for, with each team paying part of his salary. Inter Miami have been linked with the player so far.
Major League Soccer are said to be keen to significantly increase the visibility of their tournament in light of the upcoming North American World Cup in 2026. Signing Messi would be a big step in that direction.
