'Messi already has a team: Inter' - Barcelona star's former agent

The agent who oversaw Lionel Messi’s move to Barcelona is now backing him to follow in the footsteps of Cristiano Ronaldo and move to Italy.

In the late hours of Tuesday, FC Barcelona fans’ worst nightmare started taking shape in reality as reports emerged that Lionel Messi had drafted a transfer request.

It is understood that Messi wants to make use of a release clause on his contract, which already expired at the end of May, to unilaterally terminate his contract with Barca.

The 33-year old Argentine’s future has become a subject of intense debate ever since the news broke out.

A reunion with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, a reconvening with Neymar at Paris Saint-Germain, and a move to Inter Milan are being mooted.

According to Josep Maria Minguella, the agent who signed a 12-year old Messi for Barca, the latter seems the most logical.

“For me, Messi already has a team: Inter.” Minguella told Cadena COPE.

“In Italy they pay less tax, and in fact, there is Cristiano Ronaldo. It’s harder for me to see him in England, no matter how long his friend [Sergio] Aguero and [Pep] Guardiola are at City.

“Now in Italy, they are trying to revitalize the world of football with great signings and with these advantages in the advertising contracts of the football players.”