Beckham: Messi’s Arrival to Miami – A Moment of Unparalleled Greatness

Former Manchester United midfielder and current co-owner of Inter Miami, David Beckham, has admitted that convincing Lionel Messi to join Inter Miami is one of the most extraordinary moments in his life.

“I never thought I would feel this way as a co-owner compared to when I was a player,” Beckham told The Athletic. “Receiving confirmation of Messi coming to Inter Miami felt like stepping onto the grounds of Old Trafford or Wembley. I felt like I had just defeated all opponents to sign the greatest player in history. This will be the biggest deal in the history of American sports.”

When asked if it was one of the most beautiful moments of his life, the English football legend replied, “Absolutely, yes.” Inter Miami was established in 2018 and joined the MLS two years later, ranking 19th, 20th, and sixth in their first three seasons. Currently, Inter Miami sits at the bottom of the table after 22 games in the 2023 season, with five wins, three draws, and 14 losses. Just before signing Messi, the team went through an 11-game winless streak.

Beckham revealed that he had always desired to bring Messi to the MLS and had discussed this idea with co-owner Jorge Mas during a dinner 10 years ago. According to the former Manchester United star, all sports franchise owners want to recruit the best players, and they saw Messi as the perfect fit for Inter Miami.

It wasn’t until 2019 that Beckham traveled to Barcelona to personally discuss the idea with Jorge Messi, Lionel Messi’s representative and father. “We sneaked into a hotel, met with Jorge Messi, and started the conversation,” Beckham recounted. “The essence of the conversation was ‘We want Messi to come to Inter Miami. We know he can’t come immediately, but someday he might come to Inter Miami.'”

Beckham expressed his love for the United States and his desire to leverage his experiences from playing at the highest level in Europe to change the face of MLS. He also compared Messi’s arrival at Inter Miami to his own move to LA Galaxy in 2007, emphasizing that the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner wants to win and is committed to Inter Miami’s long-term project.

Meanwhile, Barcelona President Joan Laporta admitted feeling strange seeing Messi in an Inter Miami jersey. He asserted that the members of Barcelona wanted Messi to return to Camp Nou, but they all respect his decision and wish the 36-year-old forward the best.

This summer, there were rumors that Messi would return to Barcelona after his contract with PSG expired. However, the 36-year-old striker stated that many people at Barcelona didn’t want him back, and he hadn’t received any official invitation, leading him to decide to join Inter Miami.

Nevertheless, Laporta believes that Barcelona has received approval from La Liga for their financial balance plan and can sign a contract with Messi. According to the Barcelona President, Messi’s father, Jorge Messi, said that his son had a difficult year in Paris and wanted to reduce the pressure, which he couldn’t do if he returned to Camp Nou. “Everything in Miami is different; it’s a new league that is improving, and Messi can help it develop,” Laporta told ESPN on July 28. “Everything that is good for Messi is also good for us, and it’s good for Barca. We always keep Messi in our hearts, and Messi also knows that Barca is his home.”