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A date and time have been set for Lionel Messi’s much-anticipated offer to MLS club Inter Miami. The Argentina captain will be introduced as an MLS player on July 16, at 7:30 p.m. ET, according to ESPN correspondent Moil Lorens.
Messi may be introduced alongside former Barcelona teammate Sergio Busquets. Like the Argentine, the Spaniard also joins the MLS club as a free agent. He leaves Barcelona after nearly 15 brilliance with the La Liga giants.
On the other hand, Lionel Messi is making this move after his contract with Paris Saint-Germain expired on June 30. The 2022 World Cup winner spent two seasons in the French capital.
While Messi was closely linked with a fantasy return to Barcelona, ​​the move never materialized. The 36-year-old is leaving European football to start a new journey in MLS.
He becomes perhaps the most famous player in the history of American football. While names like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Thierry Henry, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Andrea Pirlo, David Beckham, David Villa, and more have played in Major League Soccer before, Messi could be taking the league’s popularity to higher levels.
Apart from Messi and Busquets, Inter Miami have also been linked with Sergio Ramos, Jordi Alba, Dani Carvajal, Eden Hazard and other familiar names in European football.
Jorge Mas, co-owner of Inter Miami, has spoken about signing Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi has been a stalwart of world and European football since the beginning of his career. He is considered one of the greatest players of all time. Thus, pulling out of his signature was a sensational deal for Inter Miami.
However, the process took some time. The club’s billionaire tycoon, Jorge Mas, has explained how MLS has been eyeing Messi for a while. Maas told El Pais on the subject:
“I spent three years on it, a year and a half very intensely. There were many conversations with (Messi’s father and agent) Jorge. David (Beckham) spoke to Leo, only about football issues, because he was a player.”
he added:
“I saw it at the end of May. I didn’t want him to feel pressured. We spoke in Barcelona, ​​Miami, Rosario, Doha… I spent the entire World Cup in Qatar, watching Argentina. Apple’s contract was very important to seal the deal.”
Lionel Messi is set to earn $50 million to $60 million annually from his contract with Inter Miami. The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner will also receive shares from the club’s contract with Apple and Adidas.
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