What are the Odds for Messi to Join the MLS?

Barcelona and Argentina forward Lionel Messi has recently shaken MLS fans in a recent interview with Spanish TV channel La Sexta, saying that “I (Messi) would like to play in the United States someday, it’s always been one of my (Messi’s) dreams... but I don't know if it will happen!”

This comes just months after the six-time Ballon d’Or winner tried to force a move from Barcelona in the summer, following a series of disagreements of how the club was run under the previous president Josep Maria Bartomeu. Messi has been persistently linked with a move to Manchester City due to his good relationship with Pep Guardiola, having won a treble at the Camp Nou under his stewardship in the 2008/09 season, but recently said that he will not be negotiating as a free agent whilst still under contract at Barca.

Inter Miami are the favourites to sign Messi out of all of the MLS sides, with owner David Beckham apparently dreaming of the move himself, and why not? After all it would be the biggest move in Major League Soccer history since the likes of Beckham himself and more recently Zlatan Ibrahimovic had spells playing in the league, coming from major European clubs in Real Madrid and Manchester United to do so.

Messi could also be tempted by Inter in the MLS, as they brought in a good friend of his in Gonzalo Higuain last summer, with the fellow Argentina international signing on a free transfer from Juventus with his French teammate Blaise Matuidi, as Beckham’s side are looking to increase their growing reputation following what was their inaugural MLS season.

Barcelona’s captain is priced at 16/1 to move to Inter Miami. Click here to claim this bet in your bet slip!

New York City come in as second-favourites to sign Messi out of all the MLS sides at 25/1. Since their formation in May 2013, they have had a number of high-profile players towards the latter stages of their careers, with Messi’s former Barcelona teammate David Villa joining the Blues in 2014, as well as the likes of Frank Lampard and Andrea Pirlo.

It would not surprise to see New York and Manchester City try and use a similar strategy to that which saw Lampard go to the MLS back in 2014 from Chelsea, where the Blues signed the midfielder as a marquee signing for the league, before loaning out the former England international to back to his homeland to play for City.

New York City have the odds of 25/1 to sign Messi.

LA Galaxy are the outsiders to sign the Argentinian, as they are the biggest club in America, having won the MLS Cup five times, and will be desperate to make a statement having failed to even qualify for the playoffs last season.

The Galaxy are known for bringing in highly notable players to America, having signed David Beckham in 2007, as well as Zlatan Ibrahimovic in 2018. Their current roster contains the likes of Javier Hernandez and Messi’s former Barcelona teammate Jonathan Do Santos and will be desperate to improve on their 20th place finish last campaign.