Lionel Messi has made the decision to join Inter Miami CF of Major League Soccer. He announced this on Wednesday, "I made the decision that I am going to Miami," he said during an interview.
"I still haven't closed it 100%. I'm missing some things, but we decided to continue on the path. If the Barcelona thing didn't work out, I wanted to leave Europe, get out of the spotlight, and think more about my family."
CBS Sports revealed that Messi had officially made the decision. A Saudi team called Al-Hilal had made an offer of $400M a year to Messi. Messi said Wednesday that there were a lot of things missing from the interview he felt uncomfortable waiting on the unknown. He said money was not a problem for him and if his decision was based on money, he would have chosen Saudi Arabia.
"I had offers from other European teams but I didn't even evaluate them because my idea was to go to Barcelona. And if the Barcelona thing didn't come out, analyzing it, then leaving European football." He added he's hopeful to focus more on family and well-being in the US.
"Obviously I wanted to return to Barcelona," Messi said. "I had a lot of desire to be able to return. But on the other hand, having lived what I lived, and the exit that I had, I did not want to return to be in the same situation again."
"We are pleased that Lionel Messi has stated that he intends to join Inter Miami CF and Major League Soccer this summer," MLS said in a statement. "Although work remains to finalize a formal agreement, we look forward to welcoming one of the greatest soccer players of all time to our League."