The Florida club has kept a low profile in recent months as rumors and speculation swirled about Messi’s future in the world of football. Firstly, there was the board of directors of FC Barcelona, \u200b\u200bwhich claimed that, despite severe financial constraints, it had a good chance of making the world champion again after two years of “exile” in Paris. Then there was the Saudi Hilal, who would pay him no less than 400 million euros in salary for two seasons.
Messi himself said in an interview with Catalan sports newspapers on Wednesday that Messi himself remained mainly hoping to return to Barcelona, where his big house still stands and his three sons can return to their previous school. sports And El Mundo Deportivo.
“My wife and children and I didn’t want to leave Barcelona. But after what happened two years ago, when I was unexpectedly not allowed to stay at Barcelona, we didn’t want to be under any illusions this time. It depended on many things, it had to be sold.” Players, lower salaries… It didn’t feel right. This time I didn’t want to depend on others and make the decision myself.”
Another club from Europe
The agreement with the American club has not yet been signed, but it seems that this is just a formality, after Messi’s statements. He explained that it was not about the salary. “I would have gone to Saudi Arabia for the money, which seemed to me to be a lot of money. But other things determined my decision.”
The main question: “In the past two years in Paris, I have not been happy, and neither has my family.” And Miami, Major League Soccer? “I had an offer from another club in Europe, but I want to experience football in a different way. Enjoy the day more. And not always be in the spotlight.”
With Barcelona unable to present him with a concrete offer yet, pending the decision of the Spanish Football Federation regarding the salary cap and the amounts that the club can spend this summer, the option of returning with nostalgia has been overtaken by the possibility that Messi will always be interested in him. Was: Miami. The city he visited regularly with his family, which is considered a kind of paradise by many Argentines and where Spanish is spoken almost everywhere due to the presence of a large Cuban colony.
The text continues below the image.
an opportunity? At the end of April, PSG’s selection received a visit from the brilliant ex-player David Beckham. The Englishman took a picture with Messi, among others. Beckham is the chairman and co-owner of Inter Miami, the American MLS franchise that he founded in 2018 with the support of two wealthy brothers of Cuban descent: Jorge and José Mas. They were born in Florida shortly after their parents fled Fidel Castro’s communist regime. When they acquired the majority of the shares in 2018, they said Messi’s arrival would be their main goal. “It’s Messi or nothing.”
However, like La Liga, MLS has also imposed a salary cap on participating clubs. However, Inter Miami, who are bottom of the Eastern Conference midway through the current season, have more financial scope than Barcelona.
Help from two big companies
Good entry site the athlete This week I wrote that two big companies are involved in Messi’s signing: Adidas, which has been contracting the player for years, and Apple+, which owns MLS TV rights. Since Messi’s arrival will boost global interest in MLS, the player can get a percentage of the extra revenue from TV rights.
Messi’s arrival in Miami, where he owned a home for several years, coincides with two major tournaments: the South American Cup next year will be held in the United States, and two years later the country, along with Canada and Mexico, will host the World Cup. Argentina will defend their title with Messi in both tournaments. That last tournament, when he was 39, must have been his farewell as a footballer.
Tv fanatic. Freelance thinker. Social media enthusiast. Total bacon lover. Communicator.