Lionel Messi is taking his talents to South Beach.
The legendary footballer is planning to join MLS club Inter Miami after spending two seasons with Paris Saint-Germain in France.
Reports of the two sides closing in on a deal appeared Tuesday night in The Athletic, and the BBC reported Wednesday morning that he was headed to the South Florida club.
The deal with Inter Miami includes collaborations with companies such as Nike and Apple.
Messi, who helped lead PSG to Ligue 1 titles in both seasons there, was also being courted by Barcelona and Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal.
Had Messi gone with Al-Hilal, it would have had him playing in a league that includes superstars Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema.
La Liga’s Financial Fair Play limitations made any return to Barcelona a tall task for Messi.
His father, Jorge Messi, said earlier this week that “Messi would love to return” to Barcelona.
Messi holds the club’s record in goals (672) and over his 17 years there, he helped them win 10 La Liga titles, four Champions Leagues, and seven Spanish Cups.
Messi’s first time suiting up for the MLS club could be on July 21 when Inter Miami hosts Mexican side Cruz Azul at DRV PNK Stadium for a Leagues Cup match, according to The Athletic.
The move to the United States will mark the first time that Messi has played outside of Europe during his career.
Messi isn’t free of his contract with PSG until June 30, but the club had already acknowledged that this past campaign would be his final one with them.
Inter Miami has long been linked to Messi and has been hoping to bring him aboard since the team’s inception in 2018.
The forward appeared in a congratulatory video on social media when Miami was welcomed into the MLS, and club owner David Beckham visited the PSG’s training facility in April and appeared in a photo with Messi.
Miami is currently 5-0-11 and in last place in the Eastern Conference.
The team is currently being managed by interim coach Javier Morales after they fired Phil Neville last week.
But Messi’s arrival could spell a massive change in the club’s fortune – and add to the impressive sports run the South Florida region has seen this year.