How HUGE ‘opportunity’ sealed Messi’s Inter Miami transfer
Tom Hancock
- 7 Aug 2023 18:39 BST
- 3 min read
Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas has opened up about why he believes Lionel Messi chose the MLS club over a return to Barcelona or a move to Saudi Arabia.
Messi has made a typically prolific start to life with his new team, racking up seven goals in his first four appearances – having joined as a free agent following the expiry of his contract at PSG.
And Mas believes that the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner opted for a switch to the USA in order to help transform football in the country.
MORE: Messi into Inter Miami’s top 5 scorers of ALL TIME after FOUR games
Mas explained to Offside with Taylor Twellman: “I asked him [Messi], ‘What are your aspirations? What are your dreams?’. Right? Like, ‘What do you want?’.
“We’re competing for the best player in the world with the powerhouses of global soccer and with endless money that we cannot compete with.
“So, I had to try to find what makes Lionel Messi tick. What can we offer that someone else can’t?
“In this country, Lionel Messi has the opportunity to change the sport. If he would have stayed at PSG, he wasn’t going to change the sport – [nor] if he returned to Barcelona, either – and going to Saudi, [he] wasn’t going to change the sport there.”
EXCLUSIVE: Barcelona still working on Lionel Messi loan deal despite Inter Miami comments
OTRO GOLAZO DE NUESTRO CAPITÁN 🫡 🫡🫡#DALvMIA | 4-4 pic.twitter.com/aOhBw7LJGZ
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) August 7, 2023
Messi's Miami reunion
Messi has yet to make his league debut for Inter Miami – where he’s been joined by ex-Barca teammates Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, and former manager Gerardo 'Tata' Martino – with the side’s four matches since the 36-year-old became available to play all coming in the Leagues Cup.
But Argentina’s 2022 World Cup-winning captain should make his MLS bow in two weeks’ time, when the Herons return to league action at home to Charlotte FC.
