San Jose Earthquakes coach Matias Almeyda has urged Barcelona star Lionel Messi to move to MLS.

Messi, 33, comes off contract in June and is expected to leave Barca this summer.

Fellow Argentine Almeyda told 90min: "I would recommend him to come here to MLS. In the United States, Messi could finally enjoy what he does, with a different way of life than Barcelona and Europe for both him and his family.

"Messi here could walk, ride a bike, go to the supermarket ... And the MLS is a competitive league, it's not that simple. He would have fun, off the pitch instead he would return to being a normal human being."

Interestingly, Messi has just spent €9m to buy a high rise apartment in Miami.