Inter Miami boss Phil Neville has sent scouts to Qatar to run the rule over Argentina World Cup star Lionel Messi as the MLS side weigh-up a move for the 35-year-old hot prospect.
Neville received a tip-off from long-term friend and Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham after Messi’s performances for La Albiceleste caught the eye of the former England captain.
Beckham is in Qatar after he accepted a ‘few quid’ to promote the World Cup there.
Scouts from his MLS franchise will be present when Argentina takes on the Netherlands in Friday’s quarter-final clash at the Lusail Stadium.
They’ll be hoping the 7-time Ballon d’Or winner has what it takes to compete at the highest level of American soccer.
‘Dave rang me after the Argentina v Australia game and said ‘Phil, I’ve seen a player’, Neville told Paddy Power News.
‘I hadn’t heard him as thrilled since Victoria said she was packing in the singing’.
‘He told me all about this little Argentinian fella who’s been making a bit of a name for himself in Europe’.
‘Dave thought we should try to sign him straight away, but I suggested we should err on the side of caution and do our homework first’.
‘I mean, sure he can score 70 goals per season in La Liga but can he hack it on a wet Wednesday night in Cincinnati? You can never be sure’.
‘We’ll wait to see the scouting reports. If Chad and Cooper think he could improve the squad, we’ll get him over to the Drive Pink Stadium for a trial’.
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Meanwhile, Neville confirmed the club had also been in talks with Uruguayan international striker Luis Suarez about a possible move.
Suarez was last seen gurning his lamps out following Uruguay’s dramatic World Cup group stage elimination.
‘I spoke to Luis this morning about the opportunity to play for Inter Miami and he said he’d bite my hand off – amongst other things’.
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