A new club is reportedly confident of signing Paris Saint-Germain superstar Lionel Messi after talks with the player's entourage, and it is not FC Barcelona.
With Messi out of contract at the end of the season, reports suggest that a few clubs, including Barcelona, have made their interest in the Argentine known.
Read: Messi to make shock PSG exit in January?
Despite already being on their books, PSG are also locked in the race to secure the 35-year-old's services as they want him to extend his stay with them.
According to The Athletic, however, Major League Soccer outfit Inter Miami have made their move for the decorated South American.
It is said the Florida-based team, co-owned by England legend David Beckham, is now confident of signing Messi next year after talks with the forward's camp over the past couple of years.
Negotiations are said to be set to resume after the 2022 FIFA World Cup, with it being understood the Argentina captain will only be making a decision on his future then.
Despite this latest news, both PSG and Barca will continue their pursuit of the player, although the latter could find themselves in a complicated position.
According to Spanish outlet Sport, Messi has been refusing to respond to phone calls made by a negotiator on behalf of Blaugrana president Joan Laporta.
It is claimed the Catalan club chief had planned to meet his club's all-time leading goalscorer at the Ballon d'Or awards ceremony in Paris last month, but this yielded no result.
Read: Ghana coach: We can beat every team in the world
Their fractured relationship has been widely publicised, with Messi thought to still be harbouring negative feelings towards Laporta due to the executive's failed promise to keeping him at the Camp Nou last year.
You must be SIGNED IN to read and post comments.
WATCH: THE BIGGEST BREAK-UPS BETWEEN CLUBS AND ATHLETES, INCLUDING MESSI'S DEPARTURE FROM BARCA