Lionel Messi Linked With Rare Transfer That Would Last Just Four Months

Lionel Messi has been linked with a surprise move away from Inter Miami during the MLS off-season.

Messi has scored 32 goals and assisted a further 20 in just 30 MLS appearances in 2025, helping Inter Miami into the end-of-season playoffs.

They are currently 4-3 up on aggregate ahead of the third and final leg of their first round playoff against Nashville, which takes place on November 8.

Last month, Messi signed a contract extension with Inter Miami which keeps him in the MLS until the end of the 2028 season, by which point he will be 41 years of age.

So far, Messi has resisted the opportunity to leave Miami on loan during the off-season, which runs between December and February.

David Beckham and Thierry Henry both left their respective MLS clubs, LA Galaxy and New York Red Bulls, in search of extra game time, with Henry memorably enjoying a brief spell back at Arsenal at the beginning of 2012.

According to Turkish outlet Fotomac, Galatasaray have shown interest in signing Messi on loan during the MLS break, with the Turkish giants willing to pay the Argentinian's entire salary.

It is claimed that they are interested in a four-month loan deal for the Argentina legend, which would see him finish the 2025/26 season playing in Europe and miss the start of the new MLS campaign.

It is unclear how likely it is that Messi would even entertain the move, given that he will have effectively played competitive football for an entire year once the January transfer window re-opens.

Inter Miami competed in last summer's Club World Cup during the MLS mid-season break, with the 38-year-old starting all three of their group stage matches.

And with the 2026 World Cup - co-hosted by the United States - on the horizon, it would surely be a surprise to see Messi take any risks in regards to potential injuries ahead of the tournament.

Galatasaray sit top of the Turkish Super Lig at present, with nine wins and two draws from their 11 matches.

They completed permanent moves for both Leroy Sane and Victor Osimhen over the summer, before signing Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan on what was transfer deadline day in England.