Easily one the most important player moves of the year in world soccer, Lionel Messi has agreed to join MLS franchise Inter Miami, fueling an almost unprecedented sense of excitement and euphoria.
Nevertheless, this was a deal that took several years to clinch, while the Inter Miami hierarchy always maintained keen interest, utterly determined that one day their most ambitious acquisition would finally arrive. Indeed, the first rumors about Messi heading to the United States began gathering pace in 2021, around the same time he was preparing to leave Spanish giants FC Barcelona.
While there were certainly serious enquiries from the MLS and Inter Miami, the player himself was keen to remain in Europe, eager to continue playing in the UEFA Champions League. When the call came from Qatari-backed Paris Saint-Germain, there was little hesitation on the part of Messi, afforded the opportunity to join a big-spending club with serious ambitions of conquering Europe.
But as the old adage goes, money doesn’t always guarantee success. Despite spending two seasons at the Parisian club, even this most iconic of players was unable to bring them a coveted European triumph. Not even the iconic Messi could change that fate, gradually leading to a souring of relations with fans and even the club itself. Although PSG opened contract renewal talks, Messi had already made up his mind about coming to America.
Less pressure now for Messi?
Although there has been consistent growth and improvement in recent years, Major League Soccer is quite some ways behind the top European leagues, both in terms of overall quality and global exposure. Clearly, both will change for the better thanks to the arrival of Messi at Inter Miami. But amid such high levels of expectation surrounding the player, naturally, one might assume that also brings additional pressure for the Argentina superstar.
Intriguingly, despite there never being any realistic economic possibility of returning to Barcelona, the 2023-24 LaLiga champions were less than welcoming of his final decision. They had hoped to find some way to engineer the return of Messi, despite serious ongoing financial struggles. In a brief statement, once the Argentina captain had made his choice, they suggested that Messi had chosen to “compete in a league with fewer demands.”
While that statement is hardly becoming of the “values” the club attempts to maintain, according to Gareth Bale, there is an element of truth to such opinions. Following his departure from Real Madrid, the Welshman opted to join Los Angeles Galaxy in the MLS ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, regarding the move as an ideal opportunity to prepare himself for the tournament in Qatar.
“They accept losing a bit more, there’s no consequence,” suggested Bale, in comments highlighted by ESPN. “You can’t get relegated over there. When you lose a game, you go on to the next one,” he observed. “They know how to lose, but they celebrate every win like you have won the championship. He will definitely enjoy it,” concluded Bale, convinced that Messi will thrive during his new MLS adventure.
Inter Miami thrilled to have Messi
Despite having struggled so far during the 2023 MLS campaign, placed at the wrong end of the Eastern Conference standings, leading sportsbooks including Betway are confident the fortunes of Inter Miami will improve significantly. Odds for the Floridian team to win the MLS have shortened since the arrival of Messi was confirmed, given that many soccer experts believe the Argentina ace will inspire much stronger performances.
Speaking to the Miami Herald, managing owner Jorge Mas has also confirmed when Messi will make his first competitive appearance. Scheduled for July 21, the 36-year-old will debut for Inter Miami against Liga MX outfit Cruz Azul, when the two sides meet in the Leagues Cup. The first official MLS outing for Messi could then follow on 21 August, when his new club faces Charlotte FC at home in the MLS.
Understandably, the demand for tickets has reached phenomenal proportions. Mas has already confirmed that over the coming weeks, capacity at the DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale will be increased to around 22,000 in total. “Every game will be sold out. The demand for tickets has been 10 times what we can handle on a season ticket basis,” he acknowledged with enthusiasm. The Messi effect will undoubtedly fill every stadium