Roger Hampel
FOT: Instagram/@leomessi
The football world buzzes with excitement as Lionel Messi, the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner, contemplates joining Inter Miami CF. Jorge Mas, the CEO and managing owner of the club, believes this move could have a significant impact on the Major League Soccer (MLS).
"Lionel Messi's arrival could redefine soccer in the United States," Mas said, speaking with local reporters. "My firm conviction is that his presence could boost North America, and particularly the United States, to become one of the top two soccer leagues globally. The importance of this potential moment cannot be understated."
The comparison between Messi's proposed move and David Beckham's leap to LA Galaxy in 2007 is inevitable. Beckham's arrival from Real Madrid forever altered MLS's perception and triggered the Designated Player rule. This was a watershed moment that spurred the MLS's massive growth over the last 16 years, spanning from team expansions and infrastructure upgrades to an increased roster spend and nurturing of homegrown talent.
Mas sees the same transformative potential with Messi, former FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain icon. Messi’s arrival in the MLS would coincide with the momentum already surrounding the league. With 43 titles for club and country, including a recent World Cup victory with Argentina in December, and over 800 goals under his belt, Messi's impact could be monumental.
“We stand on the brink of an unprecedented opportunity,” Mas said. “I believe we will collectively take the necessary steps to ensure that this league experiences the rapid growth it truly deserves.”
Mas also shared that Inter Miami plans further action to boost their 2023 campaign. With the league’s Secondary Transfer Window running from July 5 to August 2, the club intends to register or add reinforcements, either from within the MLS or internationally.
“We are looking to make additional signings during the summer window, more than people expect,” Mas confirmed. “We are not planning a major overhaul, but we could be bringing in between three and five new players.”
Currently positioned at the bottom of the Eastern Conference table, Inter Miami is seven points off the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs pace halfway through their 2023 campaign. The team is also set to play in the US Open Cup semifinals against FC Cincinnati on August 23, and kickstart their Leagues Cup campaign versus Liga MX side Cruz Azul on July 21.
The team, currently under the stewardship of interim head coach Javier Morales, is in the process of searching for Phil Neville's successor, who parted ways with the club on June 1. Chris Henderson, Chief Soccer Officer and Sporting Director, is spearheading this search.
Source: Jonathan Sigal. MLS | https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/messi/lionel-messi-would-bring-unprecedented-opportunity-to-mls-inter-miami-owner
Inter Miami CEO Sees Messi's Potential Move as MLS Game-Changer.
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