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Lionel Messi to join Inter Miami after PSG exit: Reports

Messi played the final game for PSG on June 3

Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi will move to Major League Soccer side Inter Miami as a free agent after parting ways with French champion Paris St Germain, reports said on Wednesday.

If the deal with Miami goes through, the 35-year-old Argentine will be playing outside Europe for the first time.

"The Miami deal includes collaboration from brands like Adidas and Apple," reported BBC.

Messi played the final game for PSG on June 3 as the French league champion lost to Clermont 3-2. Disrespectful PSG supporters booed Messi when the Parc des Princes announcer read his name on a warm evening. 

A few minutes later, Messi walked onto the field with a smile on his face, holding his three children's hands before the team photo and kissing them on their foreheads before kickoff.

"I would like to thank the club, the city of Paris and its people for these two years. I wish you all the best for the future," Messi told the club website.

In two seasons at PSG, Messi won two French leagues and the French Champions Trophy and notched 32 goals and 35 assists in all competitions.

The World Cup winner didn't sign the contract extension that Qatar-backed PSG offered him and has been strongly linked with a move to a Saudi club where he could earn more money than Ronaldo. 

There had also been talk of a return to Barcelona, where he spent the majority of his career, or to the United States to play in MLS.

Messi arrived at Barcelona at the age of 13 and left having won 35 titles. He helped the club win the Champions League four times, the Spanish league 10 times, the Copa del Rey seven times and the Spanish Super Cup eight times. Messi is also the team's all-time scorer with 672 goals in 778 appearances, and the top scorer in the Spanish league with 474 goals in 520 matches. 

With PTI inputs