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Inter Miami present Lionel Messi to sold-out crowd
Lionel Messi, the new signing for Inter Miami, was officially presented to a cheering crowd at DRV PNK Stadium.
Despite heavy rain and lightning, a sold-out crowd of approximately 20,000 eagerly awaited the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner as he was given the number 10 shirt.
In a brief speech in Spanish, the 36-year-old Messi expressed his gratitude to the supporters and stated that he has the same desire to play as always. The World Cup-winning Argentina forward has joined the Major League Soccer (MLS) club on a contract until the end of 2025.
During the presentation event, Messi was introduced as “America’s number 10, the world’s best number 10” as he made his entrance on a grand catwalk. Defensive midfielder Sergio Busquets, who previously played with Messi at Barcelona, was also unveiled as part of the Inter Miami team until 2025.
Lionel Messi is officially presented as an Inter Miami player 🇺🇸
The iconic number 10 is back! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/HBVvbdqPiH
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) July 17, 2023
To welcome Messi to the United States, video messages from seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady and four-time NBA champion Stephen Curry were shared.
“I really want to start training, to compete,” Messi said. “I have the same desire that I always had to compete, to want to win, to help the club continue to grow.
“I am very happy to have chosen to come to play in this city with my family, to choose this project and I have no doubt that we are going to enjoy it a lot.
“We are going to have a good time and very good things are going to happen.”
Inter Miami’s temporary stadium, DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, has a capacity of 18,000, making it one of the smallest in MLS alongside San Jose Earthquakes’ PayPal Park in California. To accommodate more fans, a temporary grandstand has been erected.
Lionel Messi joined Inter Miami after leaving French champions Paris St-Germain at the end of the 2022-23 season. During his time at PSG, he scored 32 goals in 75 games over a two-year period. Despite lucrative offers from other countries, Messi chose to play in the United States, marking his first venture with a non-European club.
Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham expressed his excitement over Messi’s signing, describing it as a “dream come true.”
“Leo, we are so proud that you have chosen our club for the next stage in your career,” he said.
Inter Miami’s primary owner, American billionaire Jorge Mas, called Messi “the best player ever to don boots”.
Lionel Messi is set to make his debut for Inter Miami against Cruz Azul, a team from the Mexican league (LIGA MX), on July 21 in the opening match of the Leagues Cup.
The match will mark a reunion for Messi with his former Barcelona and Argentina coach, Gerardo Martino, who was appointed as the manager of Inter Miami in June, replacing Phil Neville.