Inter Miami CF has revealed the signing of Argentine superstar Lionel Messi with a blockbuster video. He will be unveiled at the DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Sunday. Messi has signed a deal with Miami till the end of the 2025 MLS season after departing French champions Paris Saint-Germain after two seasons. Messi would earn “between £50 million and $60 million per year,” according to Inter Miami managing owner Jorge Mas, who revealed that it took three years of discussions to bring the 36-year-old to the team.
It’s also anticipated that the long-time Barcelona superstar can turn around the fortunes of a Miami team that sits at the bottom of the MLS Eastern Conference with a record of 5-13 with three draws. Messi will first be available for selection in a Leagues Cup encounter against Mexican side Cruz Azul on July 21.
Here’s the video:
Sí, Muchachos📍 pic.twitter.com/8E3f9hb9VU
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) July 15, 2023
We will continue to build this beautiful project: Lionel Messi
“This is a fantastic opportunity and together we will continue to build this beautiful project,” Messi said. “The idea is to work together to achieve the objectives we set and I’m very eager to start helping here in my new home.”
Saturday’s news followed a June 17 interview in which Messi announced his determination to join the MLS team, rejecting a possible return to Barcelona as well as a large cash offer to become the latest big star to fly to Saudi Arabia. Messi will take one of three designated players placed on Miami’s roster after the team released Mexican midfielder Rodolfo Pizarro on Friday, creating a vacancy.
It is the largest boost for Major League Soccer since English star David Beckham, who is now a co-owner of Inter Miami, joined the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2007. After years of searching for a stadium location, he founded the MLS Miami team in 2020.
Beckham stated in a statement, “Ten years ago when I started my journey to build a new team in Miami, I said that I dreamt of bringing the greatest players in the world to this amazing city, players who shared the ambition I had when I joined LA Galaxy to help grow football in the USA and to build a legacy for the next generation in this sport that we love so much.”
