Transfer guru, Fabrizio Romano has revealed the reason behind Lionel Messi’s decision to join Inter Miami in MLS instead of moving to Saudi Pro League.

There were rumours linking the Argentine to the Pro League where he would have reunited with his arch-rival, Cristiano Ronaldo but it turned out he decided to move to America.

The 36-year-old joined the Herons last summer on a free transfer after 19 years in Europe.

However, Romano has said that the reasons Messi did not move to Saudi was not ‘financial’ and that he was close to Inter Miami’s co-owner, David Beckham.

“I think it was not financial,” Romano said on the ARLS podcast (as per GOAL).

“I think it was for family reasons and also because he was close to David Beckham, and he had the chance to build a squad with some players who are his friends, like (Sergio) Busquets and (Jordi) Alba.

“He had the opportunity to create what he wanted there – that maybe would have been different in Saudi.

“There are different reasons, but he prepared his move to Inter Miami a long time ago. I would not say the move was close, it was a possibility, but it was never that close from what I heard.”