Barcelona have issued a salty statement ‘wishing Lionel Messi well’ after he announced earlier today that he would be joining Inter Miami CF instead of his old club Barcelona.
Much speculation over the 35-year-old’s next move has been reported, with the Argentine World Cup winner being linked also with a gigantic deal worth £2billion to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal.
But today he announced, in an interview with Mundo Deportivo, that he would be moving to Inter Miami, with his landmark £35million-per-year contract at Paris Saint-Germain set to expire at the end of June.
In a statement today, Messi confirmed: ‘I’m not going back to Barça, I’m going to Inter Miami.’
And following his announcement, his former club, Barcelona, who he played with for 21 years while winning 32 major titles, issued a rather bitter statement wishing him well while also suggesting he was going to a league ‘with fewer demands and less pressure’.
Barcelona have issued a statement on Lionel Messi’s decision to move to Inter Miami CF
Messi (pictured) will join the MLS side after snubbing offers from his former club and Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal
His former club released a salty statement that has been slammed online by Twitter users
The club statement read: ‘On Monday, June 5, Jorge Messi, the player’s father and representative, informed Club president Joan Laporta of the player’s decision to join Inter Miami, despite having been presented with a proposal from Barça, in consideration of the desire of both FC Barcelona and Lionel Messi for him to once again wear blaugrana.
‘President Laporta understood and respected Messi’s decision to want to compete in a league with fewer demands, further away from the spotlight and the pressure he has been subject to in recent years.
‘Both Joan Laporta and Jorge Messi also agreed to work together to promote a proper tribute from Barça fans to honor a footballer who has been, is, and always will be beloved by Barça.’
The 35-year-old’s father, Jorge, who is also his agent, had previously met with president Laporta to discuss a potential move back to Barcelona.
Following the talks, he said: ”Leo wants to return to Barcelona and I’d love to see him back to Barca,’ he said. ‘Barca move is an option for sure.’
Fans took to Twitter to slam the statement made by Barcelona with some calling it ‘disrespectful’
The World Cup winner won four Champions League trophies and 10 LaLiga titles while scoring 672 goals in 778 games across all competitions.
But some fans have slammed the club’s statement suggesting it was ‘disrespectful’.
One fan wrote: ‘United didn’t even disrespect Cristiano Ronaldo in this way,’ while another said ‘How are they throwing their greatest player ever under the bus like this?’
‘There are ways of honouring the greatest player to ever play for your club. This isn’t one of them. It’s not only a shot at the MLS but a direct shot at Messi,’ said another.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner will now move to David Beckham’s Inter Miami CF after his exit from PSG was confirmed earlier this week.
Messi admitted though that he didn’t want to move back to Barcelona, after his exit from the club in 2021.
The LaLiga champions were unable to afford to offer him a new contract due to the financial constraints the club have gone through in the past few years, leaving the Argentine ’emotionally destroyed’ having spent over two-decades with the club.
But earlier today, he admitted he didn’t want to return to the club, for fear of being in a situation where his future was uncertain again.
The former Barcelona No 10 told Mundo Deportivo: ‘I really wanted [to return to Barcelona], I was very excited to be able to return, but after having experienced what I experienced and the exit I had, I did not want to be in the same situation again: waiting to see what was going to happen and leaving my future in hand from another.
The World Cup winner will now move to Inter Miami where he’ll reportedly agree a deal that could see him become a part-owner of the football club
But David Beckham’s (middle) side currently sit bottom of the MLS conference league having sacked Phil Neville last week
‘I wanted to make my own decision, thinking about myself, about my family. Although I heard that it was said that LaLiga had accepted everything and that everything was fine for him to return, there were still many other things that had to be done.
‘I heard that they [Barcelona] had to sell players or lower players’ salaries and the truth is that I didn’t want to go through that, nor take charge of obtaining something that had to do with all that.’
He’ll now join the MLS side who sit bottom of the Eastern Conference and sacked their manager Phil Neville last week.
Messi will reportedly also sign a lucrative deal with the club that could see him become a part-owner as well as receive a share of Apple TV’s MLS subscription fees.
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