Lionel Messi has put an end to the speculations surrounding a possible loan move to another club once the MLS season concludes with Inter Miami, who failed to make it to the MLS playoffs, set to face Charlotte FC in their final game this Saturday.
There had been rumours circulating about the former Barcelona star’s potential return to Europe on loan during the MLS postseason break to maintain his match fitness, particularly in light of his expected participation for Argentina in the World Cup qualifiers in November.
However, Messi has dispelled these speculations.
However, when asked whether he was considering playing for another club during December [between the 2023 and 2024 MLS seasons], Messi said: “No.
“I will train, I will play our upcoming match [against Charlotte FC] and I will try to get here [to the national team] in the best possible way for November,” he said after Argentina’s 2-0 win at Peru in World Cup qualifying on Tuesday.
Messi, 36, was disappointed his team didn’t make the MLS playoffs. The Argentina captain, who joined Inter Miami in the summer after two seasons at Paris Saint-Germain, has missed five of his team’s last six games with a hamstring injury before returning to action on Oct. 7.
“It’s really a shame,” Messi said. “We came very close. I missed the last few games; we had several injuries. The month of July was very hard for us; we played every three days, and we travelled.”
Messi, who has 11 goals in 13 games for Inter Miami, did contribute to his team’s League Cup victory in August.
“We won a tournament that is important for the club and for what is coming next year,” he said.
Inter Miami will play two games while on a tour of China in November before Messi and Argentina are back in action. Argentina hosts Uruguay on Nov. 16 and plays Brazil five days later.
“After that, I will enjoy the holidays in Argentina,” Messi said.
“It’s the first time that I am going to have more days off in December, with the holidays, with peace of mind, with my people. In January, I will return again to do preseason. Start from scratch and prepare as best as possible, as always.”
Messi showcased his resurgence by netting two goals in Tuesday’s victory against Peru. This achievement also propelled him to the position of CONMEBOL’s top scorer in World Cup qualifiers, with an impressive tally of 31 goals.
Argentina, in their World Cup qualifying campaign, have maintained a perfect record, winning all four of their games without conceding a single goal.
Messi said he believes this Argentina team is “very close” to the level of the Pep Guardiola-coached Barcelona side that he played for. That Barcelona team, which won 14 trophies, including two Champions Leagues, between 2008 and 2012, is considered by many to be the greatest team ever.
Asked how he rated his current Argentina team, Messi said: “I asked myself just that the other day, this team is impressive. It continues to grow, game after game. Each time, the team plays better. To compare it to Barcelona, the best team in the world, is too much. But I think this team is very close to it because of what it has shown, such as being [2021] Copa America winners and [2022] World Cup winners.
“That has a lot of merit. We have great players regardless of who plays. We have a style of play that is very defined, that identifies us and that we like to play. I hope we can continue on this path.”