(Fort Lauderdale) When Inter Miami started to mention that they would be the team that would bring Lionel Messi to Major League Soccer (MLS), many people doubted that day would ever come.
In fact, even MLS commissioner Don Garber was one of those people. And yet…
“Here we are today with a player who I think is undoubtedly a generational player, but also the greatest of all time,” the commissioner said. He’s been through a decision-making process over the past few months, if not the past year, to choose his next destination.
“When the greatest player of all time chooses MLS, I think it says a lot about the status of the league and where it is heading for years to come. »
Messi was set to meet his new supporters at Inter Miami CF on Sunday night at the team’s stadium in Fort Lauderdale. The start of the event titled “The Unveiling” – or “La PresentaSíon” as the club dubs it – was, however, delayed by a thunderstorm.
It came a day after Messi, MLS and Inter Miami settled the final details of his contract, which will run until the end of the 2025 season.
It was the start of a busy week for Messi with his new club. His first official training session is due on Tuesday and, if all goes according to plan, he will play in a League Cup match against Cruz Azul on Friday. Sergio Busquets is also set to make his Inter Miami debut in this fixture, as the Spanish midfielder officially signed his contract with the team on Sunday.
“It’s a special and exciting opportunity that I’m very happy to take,” said Busquets, who is 35 and played with Messi at FC Barcelona.
A press conference with Messi and the team’s management was scheduled for Monday, but it was canceled midday on Sunday, without explanation.
Inter Miami CF started the season winning their first two games; since then it shows a record of 3-14-3.
The club has already announced that Messi’s contract will be for two and a half seasons and that the Argentine will be paid between $50-60m per year, totaling $125-150m in cash.
“It’s awesome,” Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa said last month when Messi announced he would be joining MLS and the Florida squad.
“We have another superstar. Big names here in Miami. It’s good for the culture here. »
There have already been high-profile welcomes for stars who have settled in South Florida. In 2004, Shaquille O’Neal drove to the NBA’s Miami Heat arena in an 18-wheel vehicle and waved to the crowd by launching water jets from a super -blower.
LeBron James and Chris Bosh were hosted by the Heat in 2010 at a party where around 14,000 tickets were claimed in two hours and where James said he wanted “not two, not three, not four, not five, not six, not seven” league titles.
This Heat team won two championships. Inter Miami CF need Messi to carry out a radical change, if only to hope to qualify for the playoffs this season.
If anyone can do it, it’s Messi.
“He’s the best soccer player to ever walk a field,” Heat guard Josh Richardson said.
