Fans have criticised Lionel Messi's potential move to Inter Miami, with several mocking the potential of Phil Neville coaching the Argentina star.
The Athletic reported on Monday that David Beckham's MLS franchise are confident of securing a deal for the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner in the 'coming months' in a shock move.
The response to the report has been largely negative, however, with fans seemingly set to turn on the 35-yar-old if the move does go through.
'It will be a crime against football if Messi is managed by Phil Neville', said one user in response to the shock news.
'Phil Neville coaching Leo Messi would be the funniest thing ever', added another.
Neville has been in charge of Inter Miami since January 2021, but has been widely criticised during his short coaching career.
He coached England Women between January 2018 and January 2021, and the side regularly underperformed under his stewardship before winning the Euro 2022 Championship under Sarina Wiegman in their first major tournament since Neville's departure.
He moved to America just days after leaving England, but his Miami side had the worst record in the MLS after 12 games that year, with just two wins to their name.
They eventually finished 11th in the Eastern Conference, before a sixth place finish this year.
On Neville potentially coaching Messi, another user added: 'Phil Neville coaching Lionel Messi this is not football and cannot be allowed to happen.'
Another added: 'The idea of Phil Neville coaching Messi is fairly disturbing.'
Some users saw the funny side, however, with one fan tweeting: 'Football needs Phil Neville managing Lionel Messi.'
Another Twitter user suggested Messi 'will destroy his legacy' if he joins the club, with another adding that 'Ronaldo will win the GOAT debate if Messi joins Inter Miami'.
Now 35, Messi is still performing at the top level and has recently hit a fine run of form with PSG in France, scoring four goals in his last three games as Christophe Galtier's side look to retain their Ligue 1 title and finally win the Champions League.
Fans on Twitter were adamant that the Argentina star still has so much to give, with one user saying: 'Messi will not join Inter Miami until he has achieved what he's desperate to achieve in Europe. They can call Ronaldo, he's not doing anything at the moment.'
Another said: 'I will never forgive Lionel Messi if he goes to Inter Miami next season, he should go there when he is 55.'
A third added: 'I would rather see Messi continue at PSG than go to Inter Miami tbh. He’s still the best player in the world and too good to be leaving Europe.'
While Messi has been linked with a fairytale return to Barcelona, secret talks have reportedly been ongoing for several months between his representatives and those of Inter Miami, and such is the advanced nature of the discussions that the American side are now expecting Messi to sign for the club in the near future.