David Beckham, the owner of Inter Miami CF, expressed his excitement as Lionel Messi officially signed for his club on July 15. The news was shared by Inter Miami on their Twitter account, announcing the acquisition of the Argentinian maestro on a free transfer.
Messi, widely regarded as the greatest footballer of all time, is set to make his highly-anticipated debut in Major League Soccer (MLS) with Inter Miami CF. This comes after his successful stint with Ligue 1 side Paris Saint-Germain, where he won the Ligue 1 title twice in two seasons.
At 34 years old, Messi finished his time in the French league on a high note, leading the league in assists for the 2022-2023 season with 16 assists in 32 games. He surpassed his former teammate Kylian Mbappe, who held the accolade the previous year.
Beckham took to Instagram to share his excitement about Messi’s arrival, stating, “The next chapter of our story starts here. Ten years ago when I started this journey, I dreamt of bringing the greatest players in the world to Miami… Players who shared the ambition I had when I joined LA Galaxy to help grow football in this country and build a legacy in this sport that we love so much.”
“Today that dream came true. I couldn’t be prouder that a player of Leo’s caliber is joining our club, but I’m also delighted to welcome a friend, an amazing person, and his beautiful family to join our Inter Miami CF community,” added the former football player.
After leading Argentina to victory in the World Cup in Qatar last year, Messi is now set to join Inter Miami CF, a team currently positioned at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. A special event will be held at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on July 16 at 8 PM ET (July 17 at 5:30 AM India time) to introduce Messi to the fans.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber expressed his delight at Messi’s decision to join Inter Miami CF and the league, emphasizing the impact this move will have on raising the profile of MLS worldwide. Garber believes that Messi’s presence will showcase the league’s appeal to top-tier players, further strengthening the sport in North America.
Messi is expected to make his debut for Inter Miami later in July, with reports suggesting a potential debut against Liga MX side Cruz Azul on July 21.
(With ANI inputs)