Barcelona is not happy that it lost Lionel Messi to Major League Soccer.
The soccer icon officially announced his decision to join Inter Miami on Wednesday afternoon. Barcelona president Joan Laporta couldn’t help but throw shade on the ever-growing soccer league in the United States shortly after that announcement.
“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,” Barcelona said in a statement wishing Messi “the best of luck.”
After a long pursuit for the world’s greatest player, Inter Miami beat out Barcelona and Saudi Arabia on Wednesday to sign Messi after his contract with Paris Saint-Germain officially expires at the end of the month. Messi won four Champions League titles and 10 La Liga titles with Barcelona before leaving for PSG in 2021.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta “understood and respected Lionel Messi’s decision to want to compete in a league with fewer demands.” (AP/Michel Euler)
While Barcelona claimed it presented Messi with an option to return, his other two reported offers were much bigger. Saudi Arabia reportedly offered Messi more than $1 billion to join their league, and Inter Miami had a rather creative offer that reportedly includes commercial deals with Apple and Adidas and the chance to purchase a minority stake in the team.
Barcelona, despite never reportedly giving Messi a formal offer, still opted to bash MLS in the process. Sure, La Liga is one of the top leagues in the world, and MLS sits well outside the hub that is European soccer. But MLS is rapidly growing — it announced plans to add a 30th club in San Diego earlier this year — and Messi’s arrival will undoubtedly help on that front.
