Digimagaz.com – Lionel Messi, the soccer legend, just inked a deal with Inter Miami, a Major League Soccer (MLS) club, as announced by the team on Saturday. This signing has brought immense excitement to the club, and Messi himself expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “I’m very excited.” The co-owner of Inter Miami, David Beckham, described this momentous occasion as a “dream come true.”
Messi, the extraordinary recipient of the Ballon d’Or on seven occasions, will remain under contract with Inter Miami until the conclusion of the 2025 MLS season. Reflecting on his recent World Cup victory with Argentina, Messi conveyed, “This is a fantastic opportunity, and together we will continue to build this beautiful project. The idea is to work as a team to achieve the goals we’ve set, and I’m incredibly eager to start contributing in my new home.”
The highly anticipated debut of the 36-year-old maestro for Inter Miami is slated for July 21. The team’s opening match of the Leagues Cup will see them face off against Cruz Azul, a formidable LIGA MX side.
Reminiscing about his aspirations a decade ago, when he embarked on establishing a new team in Miami, David Beckham shared, “I dreamt of bringing the greatest players in the world to this amazing city. Players who shared the same ambition I had when I joined LA Galaxy—to help grow football in the USA and build a legacy for the next generation in this beloved sport.” The former Real Madrid and Manchester United star continued, “Today, that dream has come true. I couldn’t be prouder to have a player of Leo’s caliber joining our club. Moreover, I’m delighted to welcome a dear friend, an incredible person, and his wonderful family into our Inter Miami community. This marks the beginning of the next phase of our adventure, and I’m eagerly awaiting Leo’s first appearance on the pitch.”
Earlier this month, Jorge Mas, one of the part-owners of Inter Miami, revealed in an interview with the Spanish publication El Pais that Messi’s contract is valued between $50 to $60 million annually. According to multiple reports, Messi’s new deal also includes the option for part-ownership of the club and a percentage of revenue generated from new subscribers to Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass streaming service.
On July 11, avid fans of Lionel Messi gathered at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, eagerly awaiting his arrival. The excitement surrounding his debut in the Major League Soccer (MLS) with Inter Miami was palpable. Messi’s journey to the US Major League Soccer club began with his arrival in Florida on Tuesday.
ESPN television footage captured the scenes of his arrival. Inter Miami had previously announced their plans to hold a presentation event called ‘The Unveil’ on July 16 at their home stadium. Last month, Messi confirmed his move to the MLS club after allowing his contract with Paris Saint-Germain to expire.
Additionally, it’s worth mentioning that Messi had spent the last two years playing for the French side Paris Saint-Germain. Prior to that, the Argentine icon had an illustrious career with Barcelona, the Spanish giants, spanning over two decades. During his tenure, he secured an impressive 10 La Liga titles and triumphed in the Champions League four times.
In December of the previous year, Messi played an instrumental role in Argentina’s victorious World Cup campaign in Qatar. In recognition of his exceptional performance, he became the first player in history to receive the Golden Ball, awarded to the tournament’s best player, on two occasions.
Source : edition.cnn.com
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