It’s official — Lionel Messi now plays for Inter Miami.
The longtime FC Barcelona superstar and World Cup winner with Argentina was introduced as a new Designated Player for Inter Miami on Sunday night — the culmination of a long process intended to bring the game’s greatest player to North America.
But it wasn’t easy. The unveiling saw delays due to storms in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale Metropolitan Area, and it appeared for a time as if the ceremony would have to be postponed — if not cancelled altogether.
However, the league’s biggest-ever transfer was indeed introduced as planned — and it sounds like Messi is happy to form a part of Major League Soccer history.
What Messi said
Walking out in the rain at DRV PNK Stadium, Messi explained his happiness at having arrived in Miami and said he couldn’t wait to get started.
“I want to thank all the people in Miami for this welcome, this affection since I arrived here. I am very excited to be with you,” he said. “I want to thank Jose (Mas), Jorge (Mas), David (Beckham) for this recognition, for making everything easy, for making us feel at home. I really want to start training, competing, I really want to win and for this club to keep growing.”
Messi played the previous two seasons at PSG and was unable to add a fifth European Cup to his already-expansive trophy cabinet. Despite links with Saudi Arabia — as well as a return to Barcelona — the 36-year-old has opted for a fresh challenge in MLS, which is experiencing significant growth as it nears its 30th season.
“When David and I first met and we dreamt of what Inter Miami represents, it started off with the freedom to dream,” principal owner Jorge Mas said Sunday. “And we dreamed of not only bringing elite players and the best players but the best player to ever don boots – and his name is Lionel Andrés Messi.”
Messi, who also won LaLiga 10 times, instantly becomes Major League Soccer‘s marquee player — albeit on its worst team, which is hoping his arrival will correspond with an immediate surge up the standings.
“I hope that throughout the tournament you (the fans) will continue to accompany us,” Messi continued. “Personally, I believe that my teammates are going to give everything to build this project and I am very happy to have chosen this city, to have chosen this project and I have no doubt that we are going to have a great time and we are going to experience very nice things.”
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