Lionel Messi's Inter Miami exit 'only a matter of time' as former teammate hints at huge transfer

Lionel Messi could be on his way out of Inter Miami less than a year after joining the MLS side, according to one of his former teammates.

The eight time Ballon d'Or winner moved to Miami over the summer after a two-season spell at French champions PSG, where he scored 22 times in Ligue 1.

Messi reportedly rejected more lucrative offers from the Middle East in favour of joining David Beckham's side.

Messi was the outstanding player for Inter Miami in the League's Cup, scoring 10 goals in six starts, but struggled to replicate that form in the MLS - netting just one goal six matches.

The World Cup winner has insisted he is happy to remain with Inter Miami, but former Argentina teammate Sergio Aguero has tipped him for a sensational return to Barcelona.

Rumours previously stated there could be an opportunity for Messi to return to Europe on loan due to the MLS off season being in the middle of the European season.

And while that is unlikely to happen, Manchester City striker Aguero said he thinks "it's a matter of time" before Messi returns to the Nou Camp.

Lionel Messi scoring for Inter Miami (credit: Getty)

"Leo always said that he loves Barcelona, he still feels very identified to the club and the city," Aguero told Spanish outlet AS.

Despite his claims, Aguero made it clear that the two of them hadn't specifically spoken about the prospect of his return, stating it was a topic they "hadn't discussed".

Messi and Aguero's friendship is well documented, with the pair becoming close at a young age where they began to room with each other while on international duty.

Messi spent 21 years at Barcelona, playing 520 times in La Liga scoring a staggering 474 goals between 2004 and 2021.

The Argentine said this when he left the club: "I always say, one doesn't know what can happen in the future, but if it were up to me to decide, I would stay at Barcelona."