"I love Messi. Messi is Messi." Mohamed Salah said that to ESPN some time ago, and right now, those words are doing a lot of heavy lifting in the transfer rumour mill. With Salah's Liverpool exit confirmed, Inter Miami have emerged as a credible destination — and the existing mutual respect between the Egyptian and Leo Messi makes it less far-fetched than it might sound.
Salah, 33, is leaving the club where he became one of the defining forwards in European football over the past decade. The question now is where he goes next, and two destinations dominate the conversation: MLS or Saudi Arabia.
The Messi factor is real
This isn't manufactured buzz. MLS commissioner Don Garber actively told Salah to call Messi and Thomas Muller to hear how well the league has treated them. "If Salah ever decides to come to Major League Soccer, we will welcome him with open arms," Garber said.
Messi, for his part, has spoken about Salah directly: "I can say that Mo Salah is the best. He is a special player." That's not the usual diplomatic praise players dish out in interviews. There's a genuine thread of respect running both ways, and Inter Miami know how to pull on it.
Structurally, the move could work too. Miami currently hold Messi and Rodrigo de Paul as franchise players, meaning a squad restructure could theoretically free up space for one more high-profile addition. Salah could effectively slot in as the replacement for Luis Suarez, who is out of contract.
Saudi Arabia remains the other option
The Saudi Pro League will push hard. As a high-profile Muslim athlete, Salah carries obvious appeal in the Arab world — and the money on offer would dwarf anything MLS could put together. The security concerns surrounding the broader regional conflict complicate things, but they haven't stopped other players from signing.
Salah's agent Ramy Abbas has been predictably tight-lipped. "We don't know where Mohamed will play next season. That also means that no one else knows." Which is exactly what you'd say if talks were ongoing and leverage still mattered.
- Inter Miami are linked but have not made a formal offer
- Saudi Arabia is the financial frontrunner on paper
- Salah's agent has denied that any destination is confirmed
- MLS commissioner has personally encouraged Salah to speak with Messi about life in the league
Inter Miami's futures odds will be worth monitoring as this develops. A front line with Messi and Salah would redefine what MLS looks like to the wider world — and the betting market would need to catch up fast.
"We don't know where Mohamed will play next season." That's the only confirmed fact right now. Everything else is positioning.
