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Galatasaray are hoping to secure a monumental deal to sign Lionel Messi from Inter Miami on loan in January. The Super Lig giants want to land Major League Soccer star to offer him football ahead of the World Cup, according to sensational reports in Turkey. Messi recently signed a contract extension with Inter Miami that sees him commit his future until the end of the 2028 season , when he will turn 41. It's plausible that it is the football legend's final deal before bringing his career to an end. However, there could yet be one last twist in the legendary forward's remarkable career. It has now emerged that the Argentina international could add another club to his repertoire - if he is happy to take Galatasaray up on their offer, with a report from FotoMac stating that the veteran is being closely monitored by the team's bosses. It is suggested that the offer could prove tempting for Messi to ensure his fitness ahead of next year's World Cup, which takes place in the United States. The MLS will soon see its post-season break, which could open the door for Messi to leave temporarily. Inter Miami will hope to compete up until December 6 when the MLS Cup final takes place. They are currently in the tournament's play-offs following the end of the regular season. Messi's side have traded wins with Nashville SC, and play in a deciding clash this weekend to progress from the first round. The Florida-based team finished third in the Eastern Conference behind Philadelphia and Cincinnati to secure a place in the playoffs, and Messi is MLS's top scorer with 32 goals. From December until at least March, Messi will not be competing in domestic football; something Galatasaray would like to take advantage of. Messi's £15million salary in Miami, bankrolled by Adidas and Apple, could prove prohibitive to any suitors, but Galatasaray have been unafraid to splash the cash in recent months. They signed Victor Osimhen for a Turkish record of £65million and handed him weekly wages of £250,000. Leroy Sane was awarded a deal worth around £7.6m a year, and Ilkay Gundogan arrived in Istanbul to earn wages of around £4m a year. Messi's arrival would add to the gravitas of Okan Buruk's squad, however. The 2022 World Cup winner already has one eye on retirement. Speaking after being awarded the key to the city of Miami, Messi admitted he is thinking about his next steps. “I’ve had a very long sporting career — I still do — and I’ve always had trusted people around me who took care of those things for me. But lately, I’ve become much more interested in what’s being done and what can be done. Unfortunately, football has an expiration date. At some point, it comes to an end,“ he said. "I like to start looking at what could come next. I like the business world ; I want to keep learning. I’m just getting started with it,” he stated. “I’ve always been 100% dedicated to my profession, but I know that something else is coming — another world — and little by little, I’m getting involved." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
