Stunning details of Lionel Messi's mega-contract with Inter Miami have now reportedly been revealed.
The Argentine superstar left many surprised when he revealed that he had opted to join the United States club instead of making a sensational return to his boyhood side FC Barcelona.
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The player highlighted that one of the reasons he turned down a move to the Camp Nou was that he understood the complicated financial situation the Spanish team is in and it did not sit well with him that some of his would-be teammates would need to accept pay cuts while others would have to be sold in order for him to once again play for the Catalan outfit.
As such, a move to Major League Soccer was the next best thing for him, and in the process he snubbed a gigantic offer from Saudi Arabian giants Al Hilal that would have seen him earn more than his old rival Cristiano Ronaldo.
He will still be smiling about his new contact, though. Per a new report by Sportico, Messi's deal in Miami is worth a staggering $150 million (R2.2 billion) between his wages, signing bonus, and equity in the team alone.
As part of the deal to take him to the States, there are also commercial partnerships with Apple, adidas and Fanatics that are still in the works, which could double his earnings.
It is believed his move to North America could also prompt even more deals he would have a stake in, including the possibility of ESPN once again broadcasting US top-flight soccer.
It said that another added benefit is that Messi will also get an ownership stake in an MLS team once he retires, a deal similar to the one handed to David Beckham in 2007 when he joined LA Galaxy from Real Madrid.
The Englishman exercised this option when he acquired a huge stake in Inter Miami, who began playing in the American top flight in 2020.
The report claims further that the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner could make his debut appearance for the Florida team when they take on Mexican side Cruz Azul on 21 July in a mid-season tournament.
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The 2023 MLS campaign will resume in August, by which time Messi will have been registered to play his first league game for the club.
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