Reports: Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi Isn’t Going Anywhere… But On Vacation

Lionel Messi Rumors Finally Put to Bed?

Just as talk was heating up over Saudi Arabia ramping up its efforts to get Messi for at least six months, that has been quieted by journalist Guillem Balague:

It means that Messi will likely undertake a well-deserved vacation before starting to train for the 2024 season.

"Messi will have around one month holiday, like other footballers. So forget any move to Saudi or similar."

- Guillem Balague, per BBC

The reason for the shortened vacation is that Inter Miami is rumored to be eyeing a slate of friendly matches in Asia — China and Japan, to be more specific.

If true, the team would likely play those matches sometime in November, according to USA Today.

That would leave December for a vacation and back to work in January leading to the start of the 2024 MLS season in February.

Honestly, if Balague is correct, I think this is the best move for Messi.

As I’ve mentioned before — and after watching him play for Argentina this week — I believe he needs a break.

It’s been an extremely active year for Messi — coming out of the Ligue One season, signing with Inter Miami in July, winning the 2023 Leagues Cup, reaching the finals of the U.S. Open Cup and jumping into the deep end of MLS play.

Toss in international breaks and that is a lot of work in a very short span of time.

With a nagging injury, rest is the best possible solution.

I know many would love to see him keep playing to close out the year, but we have to take all of the aforementioned things into consideration.

I believe we would rather see Messi at full strength in 2024 than him on the pitch one last time for Barcelona.

That’s just me and I could be wrong.

Roll on, La Familia, roll on.