FC Barcelona legend Lionel Messi is set to depart from Inter Miami in 2025, as reported by El Nacional.
The Argentine superstar has already made a definitive choice regarding his next destination. This marks a significant moment as he prepares to conclude what many consider to be the most illustrious football career in history.
During the summer, the 36-year-old surprised Barcelona fans when he decided not to return to the club he had been a part of for over two decades.
Messi was nearing free agency with Paris Saint-Germain at the time. Rather than wait for the Catalans to get their financial house in order, however, the number 10 ventured over the Atlantic to Inter Miami in the MLS where he has proven a roaring success.
He penned a two-season deal which pays him “between $50 and $60 million per year” as explained by Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas to El Pais. Elsewhere, though, there have been reports that Messi will make eyewatering sums in separate arrangements with AppleAAPL and Adidas.
Whether this is accurate or not, Messi is once again a free man in 2025.
And while his current country of residence the United States will host the World Cup with Mexico and Canada – which Argentina will go into as defending champions – a year later, their leader looks set to head south as opposed to continuing his career on American soil.
This is because Messi has already decided to join Newell’s Old Boys in his hometown of Rosario according to El Nacional, in what would be the ultimate show of respect to their typically hardcore supporters.
Messi got a feel for the kind of adoration he would receive from them on a weekly basis when playing in a testimonial match for Maxi Rodriguez at their Estadio Marcelo Bielsa a few months ago.
With Messi securing the Albiceleste’s third World Cup title at Qatar 2022, this achievement is poised to resonate across the heartlands of Argentina, where he has transcended Diego Maradona’s enduring shadow to earn the adoration of the general public.
Completing the circle by donning Newell’s colors as a professional would serve as the perfect conclusion to Messi’s remarkable journey, beginning with his departure from their academy at the age of 13 to pursue a triumphant career at FC Barcelona.
Regardless of his future destination, one can anticipate Messi returning to the Blaugrana jersey for a special tribute match when the renovations to Camp Nou, their iconic stadium, are finally completed.
