Messi rubbishes rumours of loan move away from Inter Miami،
Lionel Messi has denied speculation he will leave Inter Miami on loan to play for another club once the MLS season ends.
Inter Miami, who did not reach the MLS playoffs, faces Charlotte FC in their final match on Saturday.
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With Messi expected to play for Argentina in November’s World Cup qualifiers, rumors were swirling that the former Barcelona star could return to Europe on loan during the MLS post-season break to stay in shape.
However, when asked if he would consider playing for another club in December [between the 2023 and 2024 MLS seasons] after Inter Miami failed to qualify for the playoffs, Messi said: “No.
“It’s a shame [we didn’t qualify]. We got 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, we traveled. But we won a tournament, which is important for the club and for next year,” he said on Tuesday after Argentina’s 2-0 victory over Peru in a World Cup qualifier .
“I’m going to practice, I’m going to play our next match [against Charlotte FC] and I’ll try to get here [to the national team] in the best possible way for November. After that, I will enjoy the holidays in Argentina. This is the first time that I’m going to have more days off in December, with the holidays, peace of mind, with my people. In January, I will come back to do the pre-season. Start from scratch and prepare as best you can, as always.”
Despite missing the playoffs with Inter Miami, Messi, who scored 11 goals in 13 appearances, helped his club win the Leagues Cup in August.
“We won a tournament which is important for the club and for next year,” he said.
Messi scored twice in Tuesday’s win in Peru. In doing so, he became CONMEBOL’s top scorer in World Cup qualifying with 31 goals.
Argentina have won their four qualifying matches and are yet to concede a goal.
Messi said he thought this Argentina team was “very close” to the level of the Pep Guardiola-coached Barcelona team he played for. This Barcelona team, which won 14 trophies, including two Champions League, between 2008 and 2012, is often considered the greatest team of all time.
When asked how he rates his current Argentina team, Messi replied: “I just wondered the other day, this team is impressive. They continue to grow game after game. Every time the team is playing better. To compare it to Barcelona, the best team in the world, it’s too much. But I think this team is very close because of what it has shown, to be [2021] Copa America winners, [2022] World Cup winners.
“That has a lot of merit. We have great players, no matter 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.”
