Inter Milan have been linked with a planned swoop for Barcelona captain, Lionel Messi and Velez Sarsfield’s Thiago Almada next season.

It could be recalled that former Inter owner Massimo Moratti has been wanting to have the talisman at the club for a while, having tried to sign him in 2006.

Argentine broadcaster, Martin Castilla told TNT Sports that the Nerazzurri are ready to push for a move for the mercurial number 10.

Messi had at a time said that he is likely to end his career with the Blaugrana or travel back to his country to play for his boyhood club, Newell’s Old Boys.

Castilla is not mincing word on this, adding that it is a real planned move; not speculation.

Provided Messi moves to Italy, the stock of the League would definitely rise with Cristiano Ronaldo already in Juventus. The battle of the gladiators would also resume having faced each other in Spain for some years while Ronaldo was with the Galacticos.

His rivalry with the Portugues talisman has been described as legendary by many as they have been sharing the best footballer of the year awards for over a decade.

The reporter also revealed that the Nerrazurri is also planning to sign Almada.

Messi currently has a year left on his current deal, and he has been having strained relationship with the club management; ranging from the failure of Barcelona to re-sign his former teammate, Neymar who would have loved a return to the Catalan giants. Also, the recent comment made by former Barcelona defender, Eric Abidal, who alleged that the team didn’t give the former manager, Ernesto Valverde the needed support to succeed before being sacked.

Messi currently earns €70m before tax annually, which makes him the highest-paid footballer in the world.

Castilla further claimed that Inter had been engaged in talks with Velez over a €25m transfer for Almada, an 18-year-old attacking midfielder who could play in the flanks as well and both parties are in an advanced stage of the negotiation.

The youngster has already scored nine goals in from 45 games.

Written by: Oladipupo Mojeed