• Family stability sealed the decision

Argentine star Lionel Messi, captain of Inter Miami, revealed the decisive reason behind his move to the MLS and his rejection of the “strong” and lucrative offer made by Saudi club Al Hilal after leaving Paris Saint-Germain.

Messi confirmed during a press conference at the American Business Forum that the decision to move to Miami was primarily a purely family one, seeking comfort and stability.

Family decision outweighs financial temptation

While Messi was very close to joining Al Hilal on a massive contract, the Argentine star ultimately chose Inter Miami’s offer.

Messi explained that his experiences at Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain were the driving forces behind his decisive choice:

• Barcelona experience: Messi said: “At Barcelona, we were extremely happy. There was family, children—we had everything, and we all grew up there. Imagine, I came at the age of thirteen and built my whole life there. It was never easy.”

• Paris Saint-Germain experience: He added: “In Paris, I didn’t have an enjoyable time for many reasons, including that everything was new and completely different from what I was used to. But we adapted and experienced positive things that helped us continue to grow and live our lives.”

Messi continued, explaining that moving to Inter Miami was different: “The move to Inter Miami was different because it was a family decision.”

He confirmed that the experience in Miami had been wonderful from day one: “Since my arrival in Miami, the experience has been amazing; living in this beautiful city first, and then the warmth of the people from day one was impressive.”

Messi’s future in Miami and contract renewal

Messi, 38, recently announced the renewal of his contract with Inter Miami until 2028, continuing his journey in American soccer, which he began two years ago with unprecedented fan and media success.

This renewal confirms the Argentine star’s preference to stay with the team where he found “comfort, stability, and challenge all at once.”

Although the American stint is considered the least prestigious in his career, Messi has won at least one title in each of the past two seasons with the American team.

Behind the missed opportunity in the Roshn League

In a related context, Abdullah Hammad, CEO of the Mahd Academy, revealed intriguing details regarding Messi’s interest in joining the Saudi league during the MLS off-season.

Hammad said during the “Socrates” podcast that Messi “expressed a genuine desire to join the Roshn League during the four-month MLS break.”

He added that Messi had already contacted him for a short-term experience in Saudi Arabia, similar to what David Beckham did when he played with Milan.

Hammad explained that he presented the idea of Messi joining to the Minister of Sports, but the proposal was rejected.

This revelation confirms that the Saudi temptation was not just financial but also included proposals to accommodate Messi’s talent during his rest periods.