‘Waiting to hear back’ – JJ Watt makes cheeky play for Lionel Messi transfer to Burnley after seeing Inter Miami miss out on MLS play-offs

A return to European football is being speculated on for Messi as Inter Miami are destined to miss out on a place in the 2023 MLS play-offs. His season in America will come to an end on October 21 – with it possible that he has already played his last minutes of the campaign at club level.

Barcelona have been heavily linked with a move to return Messi to Camp Nou on a short-term loan – which would allow the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner to get competitive minutes during the MLS off season – but a deal there appears unlikely at this stage.

Watt has suggested that he is ready to join the clamour for Messi’s signature, with the former Houston Texans and Arizona Cardinals star – who is now an investor at Burnley – telling the Pat McAfee Show on ESPN when it was put to him that he should “get Messi, Dr Ryan Reynolds knows how to do it”: “Yeah I gave him a call. Still waiting to hear back…”

Burnley are in need of inspiration from somewhere after picking up just one win and four points through eight games this season, but Watt believes they will emerge victorious next time out against Brentford on October 21 – with the 34-year-old ready to fly out for the game. He added when asked where Burnley’s next win is coming from: “Next week, on Saturday, is what we're looking at, man. I'm considering flying over just for the game and then flying back. I have an itch to get out there, man.”