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<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="footballco-bet-betsense">{"type":"footballco-bet-betsense","data":{}}</script><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_d6e1e5da-7d9a-43d5-97e1-f4350a3cd7e3"}}</script><ul><li>Argentine left PSG as a free agent</li><li>Move to the Middle East was mooted</li><li>Opted to chase American dream instead</li></ul>

Explained: Why Lionel Messi chose MLS adventure at Inter Miami over reunion with eternal rival Cristiano Ronaldo in the Saudi Pro League

<p>Once it became clear that the Argentine superstar would not be signing a new contract at Paris Saint-Germain, speculation regarding his next move began to rage. There were plenty of rumours to suggest that <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/explained-why-lionel-messi-didnt-follow-cristiano-ronaldo-saudi-arabia-sergio-aguero-inter-miami-transfer/blt8f025ee8649f73aa" target="_blank">Messi was wanted alongside eternal rival Ronaldo in the Middle East</a>.</p><div class="affiliate-button-container theme-1" data-name="Apple TV"><div class="affiliate-button"><img class="logo" height="40" width="72" src="https://eu-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/bltcc7a7ffd2fbf71f5/blt2de198b67da95a2e/65709d2436cf7d0407034ef9/Apple_TV.png" style="width: 72px; height: 40px;"><span class="affiliate-text">Get the MLS Season Pass today!</span></div><a href="https://tv.apple.com/channel/tvs.sbd.7000?itsct=goal_mls&amp;itscg=30200&amp;at=1010l39UY" class="affiliate-button-link" target="_blank">Stream games now</a></div>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>No deal was done, with <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/secret-meetings-10-year-project-how-david-beckham-signed-lionel-messi-inter-miami-co-owner/bltcc28a521e2bdff22 " target="_blank">David Beckham and Inter Miami able to lure the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner to the United States</a>. Messi is playing with a smile on his face again there, with major honours already being collected, and remains convinced that he made the right career call.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has explained how Messi came to that conclusion, telling the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eziLBFpqQ7U&amp;ab_channel=Mics%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%8A%D9%83%D8%B3 " target="_blank"><em>ARLS</em></a> podcast: “I think it was not financial, I think it was for family reasons and also because he was close to David Beckham, and he had the chance to build a squad with some players who are his friends, like [Sergio] Busquets and [Jordi] Alba.  He had the opportunity to create what he wanted there - that maybe would have been different in Saudi. There are different reasons, but he prepared his move to Inter Miami a long time ago. I would not say the move was close, it was a possibility, but it was never that close from what I heard.” </p>

WHAT ROMANO SAID

<p>Messi settled quickly in Florida – a <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/lionel-messi-english-update-usmnt-star-julian-gressel-still-bilingual-inter-miami-team-mate-jokes-second-language/blt119a2b3e2e18d2ef" target="_blank">region that boasts a large Spanish-speaking community</a> – and has been producing his magical best in 2024. He has helped Inter Miami to the top of the MLS Eastern Conference, with <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/magical-lionel-messi-personal-history-career-firsts-inter-miami-superstar-six-goal-showing-new-york-red-bulls/blt85182914370c19b8" target="_blank">record books in America being rewritten along the way</a>.</p>

WHAT NEXT?

Explained: Why Lionel Messi chose MLS adventure at Inter Miami over reunion with eternal rival Cristiano Ronaldo in the Saudi Pro League | Goal.com US

Lionel Messi was never really close to reuniting with Cristiano Ronaldo in the Saudi Pro League, with the reasons for his MLS move being explained.