Argentina football team’s captain Lionel Messi has talked about his decision to join the Major League Soccer (MLS) side Inter Miami over Barcelona or Saudi club Al-Hilal.
Messi, 35, received a big-money contract offer from Saudia Arabia but the four-time Champions League winner preferred to go to America.
The Argentine showed his happiness and also expressed his desire to take on a new challenge in the later stages of his extraordinary career.
“I’m well. Initially, we had a different idea. We’re happy with the decision we have taken. I’m ready and eager to face this new challenge, this change,” Messi told Argentina’s TV Publica, hinting at his initial plan of returning to Barcelona.
The former Paris Saint Germain (PSG) star was heavily linked to the Catalan Club ever since he left PSG, he spoke about his desire to join his boyhood club earlier.
"I really wanted to return, I was very excited to be able to return, but, on the other hand, after having experienced what I experienced when I left, I didn't want to be in the same situation again. I didn't want to leave my future in someone else's hands,” Messi told Spanish media on Wednesday (June 7).
"Although I heard that it was said that La Liga had accepted everything and that everything was fine for me to return, there were still many other things that had to happen.
"I wanted to make my own decision and that's why I didn't return to Barca. Although I would have loved it, it couldn't be,” he added.
The World Cup winner also added that his family was also content with his choice of moving out of Europe for the first time in his professional career.
“(It) was an important step but at the same time, I was aware of what it meant, of what I was doing. We’re happy,” added Messi, who spent two seasons with PSG after his departure from Barcelona.
Barca also issued a statement on Thursday (June 8) Messi decided to join MLS wishing the former player the best of luck in his new quest.