One player turned down Messi's Inter Miami and chose to play in Europe instead

Nicolas Fonseca , one of the most talked-about midfielders in Liga MX this transfer window, has opted against a high-profile move to Major League Soccer with Lionel Messi and Inter Miami .

The decision closes the door on a potential reunion with global icon Messi and shows the strategic direction being taken by both the player and his ownership group.

According to reports from Super Deportivo, Inter Miami CF , the reigning MLS champions, submitted a formal offer to Club Leon for Fonseca .

However, the proposal was ultimately rejected by Grupo Pachuca , the ownership group behind Club Leon .

The offer was deemed insufficient, particularly given the group's broader objective of securing a multi-million-dollar transfer fee rather than agreeing to a deal that did not fully reflect the player's valuation.

While a transfer to Inter Miami CF would have provided immediate visibility alongside Messi , no agreement was reached, and attention quickly shifted back toward Europe.

As a result, Fonseca will be loaned to Real Oviedo , allowing him to compete in LaLiga 's competitive environment and maintain a clear pathway toward international recognition.

Leon reshapes its squad after Fonseca's exit

The departure of Nicolas Fonseca has immediate implications for Club Leon .

His exit opens a valuable roster slot designated for a "No Formado en Mexico" (NFM) player, creating flexibility for the club ahead of the Clausura 2026 .

This space is expected to be used to reinforce the back line, with a left-footed central defender identified as a top priority by head coach Nacho Ambriz .

This is not the first time Fonseca has been close to a move to Spain. During the previous summer transfer window, Club Leon had reached an agreement with Valencia CF for his transfer.

The deal collapsed at the final moment, despite the player having already said his goodbyes to teammates, leaving his European ambitions temporarily on hold.

Fonseca originally joined Club Leon in the Clausura 2025 from River Plate in Argentina, arriving as one of the headline signings in a project designed to elevate the club on the global stage.

That vision included participation in the Club World Cup , a tournament from which Leon was ultimately excluded due to FIFA 's multi-club ownership regulations affecting Grupo Pachuca .

On the pitch, Fonseca 's first year in Mexico was solid rather than spectacular. His performances were widely viewed as average, influenced heavily by the team's struggles during the Apertura 2025 .

Club Leon finished second-to-last in the standings, ahead of only Puebla , limiting opportunities for individual standouts to shine consistently.

Why Fonseca chose Spain over Miami

From the player's perspective, the move to Spain represents more than a change of scenery.

The Uruguayan midfielder views European football - particularly in Spain - as the ideal platform to increase his exposure ahead of the 2026 World Cup .

Competing in Europe strengthens his case for national team selection and aligns with his ambition of earning consideration from Marcelo Bielsa , head coach of the Uruguay national team.

In choosing Real Oviedo over Inter Miami CF , Nicolas Fonseca has made it clear that long-term development and international ambition outweigh short-term glamour.

Turning down the chance to play alongside Messi is no small statement, but for Fonseca , Europe remains the stage where his next chapter must be written.