Former Newcastle defender set to play with Lionel Messi at Inter Miami

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Newcastle United’s majority shareholders PIF were hoping to bring Lionel Messi to Saudi Arabia, but he has now announced that he is signing for Inter Miami.

Messi is set to become a free agent this summer, having announced that he will be leaving Paris Saint-Germain when his contract expires.

It has led to huge speculation over his future, with Barcelona looking to bring him back to the Nou Camp. There was also talk of a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia, and that intensified when PIF took majority control of Al Nassr, Al Hilal, Al Ahli and Al Ittihad.

There was talk that PIF’s latest investment could give Newcastle a chance to sign some world class players on loan – although Ally McCoist admitted that he thought it would be a bad idea.

The majority Toon owners now control 75% of four clubs in Saudi Arabia, and are investing huge amounts of money to bring some of football’s biggest names to the Saudi Pro League. Cristiano Ronaldo is already there, and he is set to be joined by Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante.

There was hope that Messi would move too, with Al Hilal looking to sign arguably the greatest player of all time.

However, the 35-year-old has now announced his next move – and he is off to America.

Lionel Messi set to sign for Inter Miami

Messi has announced that he will be joining Inter Miami this summer, who are owned by England and Manchester United legend David Beckham.

The move will see Messi play his senior club football outside of Europe for the first time in his career, and he is set to share a dressing room with a former Newcastle United defender.

DeAndre Yedlin is currently on Inter Miami’s books, and will soon be able to call Messi his teammate. The Argentine will also play alongside Josef Martinez, who is Miguel Almiron’s close friend from their time together at Atlanta United.

American defender Yedlin left Newcastle in 2021, leaving on a free transfer to Galatasaray. Now he is back in the USA, where he is suddenly getting the chance to play alongside Lionel Messi.

Does that compare to competing with Javi Manquillo and Emil Krafth for a place in Steve Bruce’s starting XI at St James’ Park? I’m not so sure.