David Beckham has been open about his wish to see Lionel Messi continue to have an impact stateside for years to come but the Argentine superstar’s best friend has made a startling prediction.

Sergio Aguero believes Lionel Messi could rock David Beckham and return to Inter Miami, saying it’s “only a matter of time” before the Argentine icon returns to Barcelona.

The former England captain’s MLS franchise beat off significant competition from suitors including the Saudi Pro League and his old club Barca to secure his signature earlier this year.

For the first time in his club career, he departed European football for a new chapter stateside after finding the lure of Florida too hard to resist.

Thee eight-time Ballon d’Or victor appears to have settled in nicely to life in the US with his young family, while making an immediate impact by delivering silverware in his first half-season.

Despite this, his best friend Aguero is still convinced that he could finish his career with the club where he first made his name.

Speaking to Spanish outlet AS, Aguero admitted that his best friend Messi still has Barcelona very much in his heart following over two years living in Catalonia. Despite the legendary winger’s shock departure two years ago, his compatriot revealed that Messi ‘always said that he loves Barcelona’, adding that he still feels ‘very identified with the club and city’.

Aguero did concede that he has ‘never discussed’ whether his former international teammate will eventually return to Spain following retirement. However, the Argentine legend did give Barcelona fans something to hold on to as he acknowledged that he felt it was ‘a matter of time’ before he moves back to Camp Nou.

Messi left Barca in 2021 after an incredible career in Catalonia, winning 35 pieces of silverware in his time there. The 36-year-old departed Spain following the expiry of his contract, joining Paris Saint-Germain, where he remained for two years.

Aguero’s admission will likely not be music to the ears of Inter Miami co-owner Beckham, who has previously forecast that Messi’s involvement stateside may continue following the conclusion of his playing career. The World Cup winner signed a lucrative two-year deal to effectively become the face of MLS, with commercial tie-ins with the league’s partners Adidas and Apple upon his signing over the summer.

Beckham told The Times: “I see Leo’s involvement in the league a lot longer than his playing time,”. “We are very keen to keep him to help attract players and be involved with the football development of the club and football in the US. I think that will be a lot of fun for him as it’s been for me.”

“I wanted to see him come in, see him go about everything he does so professionally, setting an example to all the young kids here.

Beckham added: “He is a superstar, but the most humble superstar. And I just love to watch him train. Anyone who has seen him live knows he’s different, special.”