Lionel Messi to make Inter Miami debut next month

MIAMI – Lionel Messi is set to play his first game for Inter Miami on July 21 when the Major League Soccer (MLS) side host Mexico’s Cruz Azul in their Leagues Cup opener, managing owner Jorge Mas told the Miami Herald newspaper on Tuesday.

Messi and Miami have agreed terms on a deal and are finalising paperwork and visas following

the Argentinian great’s announcement

of his intention to join the American club. He confirmed on June 7 that he plans to head to MLS after ending a two-year stint with Paris Saint-Germain.

The 35-year-old will sign a 2½-year deal worth US$50 million to US$60 million (S$67 million to S$80 million) a year – before counting endorsement deals with Adidas and Apple – with an option to extend until 2026, according to the Miami Herald.

MLS is not subsidising the contract and Messi will not have the same option to buy an MLS team that David Beckham received when he moved to MLS in 2007, sports business site Sportico reported.

That option turned into Miami, of which Beckham is a co-owner.

Mas said that Messi’s contract would conform to MLS roster rules.

“Absolutely no changes in the roster rules. There are no categories or anything that is being changed to incorporate Lionel Messi onto Inter Miami’s roster,” he added.

Having the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner on board promises to be a big boost for football in the United States, where its popularity trails the other four major North American men’s professional leagues.

Mas described Messi’s arrival as “the seminal moment” in the history of US football as MLS aspires to be one of the best leagues in the world.

“There will always be a before and after Messi when we talk about the sport in the United States,” he said. “I have very strong-held belief that we can create in North America and the United States, if not the greatest league, one of the top two leagues in the world. I cannot over-emphasise the magnitude of this announcement.

“Having the world’s greatest player here is something that is significant for our league and for the football ecosystem in the United States.

“Lionel Messi is coming to this country to win Cups and make a difference. It’s incumbent upon myself and my partners in the league, the other owners, to seize the moment.”

News of Messi joining Miami had its first effects in a matter of hours,

sending ticket prices soaring 1,034 per cent

and increasing the number of followers on the team’s Instagram account from one million to eight million.

Miami are currently bottom of the Eastern Conference standings – seven points from ninth place, the final spot which would give them a chance of qualifying for the play-offs.

The Leagues Cup is an annual competition between MLS and Mexico’s Liga MX clubs.

Miami, meanwhile, are widely reported to be in talks to bring Messi’s former Barcelona teammate Sergio Busquets to Florida.

Mas would not comment on the state of negotiations with Busquets, and would not name other players – such as Jordi Alba, Luis Suarez and Angel di Maria – who have all been linked to Miami.

However, he said the club expected to make between three and five additional signings.

“We’ve been preparing our roster for Messi’s arrival in 2023, so we left an enormous amount of flexibility,” he said.

“We will be making additional signings during the summer window, more than what people anticipate... I can say we will potentially be making three to five signings.” AFP, REUTERS