Saudi clubs looking to loan Lionel Messi for six months from Inter Miami

Inter Miami are out of the MLS playoffs

Saudi Arabian clubs are planning to bring Lionel Messi on a six-month loan deal after Inter Miami failed to make it to the playoff stages of the Major League Soccer (MLS).

Lionel Messi will now be free from club football as Inter Miami will be out of action for the next four months.

Saudi Arabia has proposed a loan move to bring the former Barcelona star to their country. Miami’s last match is against Charlotte FC, after which Messi will be available till the end of February. It is during this period that SAFF and the PIF are trying to sign his services for one of the Saudi clubs.

Internal evaluations are ongoing at Saudi’s end and there will be an update soon. However, it’s not the first time that a player will be making a loan move in the off-season.

Earlier, David Beckham joined AC Milan during his tenure with LA Galaxy. Thierry Henry also signed for a two-month loan to Arsenal while he was playing for NY Red Bulls.

Gerardo Martino addressed the press following his team’s playoff elimination. During the press conference, he faced questions about Lionel Messi’s potential return to FC Barcelona on loan. However, Martino promptly dismissed the idea, suggesting that while Messi might visit Barcelona, he wouldn’t be returning to play for the club.

Despite Martino’s remarks, speculation still lingers that Messi could be loaned to Barcelona, a move not uncommon in MLS, where stars have returned to their former clubs after playoff exits.

Given MLS’s history of loaning players to European clubs in similar situations. Messi might follow suit and make a short-term move to FC Barcelona during the winter season.