Phil Neville is handed an Inter Miami contract extension – will Lionel Messi be next?

Phil Neville will lead Inter Miami into a third season as head coach after getting the backing of David Beckham‘s ownership group.

The former Manchester United and Everton player’s deal expired at the end of the MLS season, which concluded Saturday with Los Angeles FC crowned MLS Cup champions, but he has now put pen to paper on a one-year contract through the 2023 campaign.

‘We are excited to continue our partnership with Phil and build on the foundation put in place this year,’ Chief Soccer Officer and Sporting Director Chris Henderson said Monday.

Phil Neville remains as head coach of Inter Miami after securing a contract extension

Lionel Messi is among the top targets for ambitious Inter, where Neville has impressed

‘He has helped Inter Miami build a winning culture, and we feel our processes, collaboration and communication have begun to bear fruit. We are ready for the road ahead and are confident we are heading in the right direction.’

Neville took Inter Miami to the MLS playoffs in the season just gone after a sixth-placed finish but lost to New York City FC in the post-season.

The ex-England Women boss said: ‘It’s a great honor to stay at Inter Miami. I’ve always thought long-term, I’ve always thought that I want to be at this Club for a long time. 

‘I think we’re in the early growth period of this Club, the early building process and I feel as if we’ve made great strides over the last two years, but by no means is the journey finished. In 2022 we finished sixth in the league, we got into playoffs. But that’s not success, that’s progression. The expectation is to win.’

Sergio Busquets, headed for the Barcelona exit, has been linked with Inter Miami extensively

The project at Miami is an ambitious one, with plans for a $1bn stadium complex and links to high-profile players.

Seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi among the top targets while his former Barcelona teammate Sergio Busquets has also been linked with a move to the team. 

Messi is under contract at PSG until next summer but speculation has continued to rage over his future should he not sign a new deal with the French giants.

The 35-year-old Argentine forward has been linked with a fairytale return to Barcelona, who he left to join PSG last August.

But according to The Athletic, secret talks have been ongoing for several months between his representatives and those of Inter Miami, who appear to be leading the chase for his highly-coveted signature.

A deal for Messi would be a huge coup for a club that was only founded four-and-a-half years ago and would arguably be a bigger signing for the MLS than when Beckham himself made the move stateside in 2007. 

David Beckham has big plans for Inter Miami and hopes to lead them to MLS glory