Argentina and Barcelona legend Lionel Messi is reportedly moving closer to a summer transfer to MLS side Inter Miami as a free agent.

The 35-year-old is still believed to prefer a return to Barcelona this summer but according to Spanish journalist Gerard Romero, who was reporting live on streaming site Twitch this morning, the Argentine’s chances of returning to the Catalan giants have diminished significantly. Romero added that if Messi’s agent and father Jorge Messi is to be believed then a decision could be reached today.

Lionel Messi move to the United States still on

As reported last Friday, MLS side Inter Miami tabled a bid for Messi worth around $54m a year starting next month when his deal at Paris Saint-Germain officially comes to an end.

Former PSG midfielder David Beckham, co-owner of the Florida-based outfit, is pushing hard to bring in Messi as quickly as he can so he can help overturn The Herons’ fortunes with Inter currently sitting rock bottom of the MLS Eastern Conference after 11 defeats in their first 16 matches and currently without a permanent head coach following the sacking of Beckham’s one-time Manchester United teammate Phil Neville last week.