Inter Miami and David Beckham are in talks with Qatar over a sponsorship deal that would cover both the Major League Soccer (MLS) expansion franchise and the retired former Manchester United star, according to the Athletic, reports, www.sportspromedia.com/.

Discussions are said to be at an advanced stage, with the reported top-tier partnership potentially covering kit sponsorship and naming rights to the club's Freedom Park stadium, due to open in 2022.

Currently, Inter Miami, who make their MLS debut away to Los Angeles FC on 1st March, are without a main sponsor.

It has not been reported exactly what Beckham's own role would be if Qatar come on board, but the 44-year-old global icon already has strong links to the Gulf state, after ending his playing career with Qatar-owned Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in 2013.

Despite Qatar's growing influence on the game globally, it continues to face heavy criticism over migrant worker abuses, its stance on homosexuality, and other abuses of human rights.