Lionel Messi, despite a downpour that threatened to dampen the event, enthusiastically greeted his new fans at Inter Miami during a lively unveiling ceremony on Sunday. The 20,000-seat stadium in Miami was nearly filled to capacity, despite a massive thunderstorm that caused a delay in the event's start. Fans sought shelter or waited patiently in their cars as a tropical downpour drenched the area.
The ceremony commenced approximately two hours later than initially planned, with devoted fans chanting Messi's name as the venue's lights dimmed. Opening the ceremony, co-owner David Beckham expressed his delight, calling Messi's arrival a "dream come true."
As the former Manchester United player, who had previously made a significant impact on Major League Soccer (MLS) by joining the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2007, Beckham declared, "Leo, we are so proud that you have chosen our club for the next stage in your career." Speaking in Spanish, Beckham added, "Welcome to our family, Leo," which prompted resounding cheers from the crowd.
Jorge Mas, the majority owner of Inter Miami, continued to energize the crowd with his bilingual speech. He described the occasion as a gift and celebration to the city that warmly embraced his family. Mas declared the rain as "holy water" and proclaimed, "This is our moment! Our moment to change the football landscape in this country." Introducing Messi as "Your new number 10, America's number 10," Mas further ignited the atmosphere.
Expressing his gratitude to the supporters, Messi, who had caused a sensation earlier in the week when he was spotted shopping with his family in a local supermarket, conveyed his happiness at being in Miami. He stated, "Thank you very much to all the people for supporting me and giving me this love. I am very happy to be here in Miami."
Messi expressed his eagerness to begin training and competing, emphasizing his unwavering desire to win and help the club grow. He expressed confidence in the chosen project, assuring that they would enjoy it and experience great things together.
Inter Miami, currently the bottom club in MLS, announced on Saturday that Messi, a seven-time Ballon d'Or winner, had signed a contract that would keep him with the club until 2025.
Following the expiration of his contract with Paris Saint-Germain last month, the former Barcelona star opted to join Miami. Another former Barcelona teammate, Sergio Busquets, was also introduced to the crowd after completing his move to the club.
MLS commissioner Don Garber praised Mas for his relentless pursuit of Messi, stating that Messi had been on Mas's radar from the beginning. Garber expressed his belief that Messi is not only a generational player but also the greatest of all time.
While Messi was scheduled to hold a press conference on Monday, the club announced on Sunday that it had been postponed without providing an explanation. Messi could potentially make his debut for the club on Friday against the Mexican team Cruz Azul in the Leagues Cup, a competition featuring teams from both MLS and Mexico's Liga MX.
In terms of entertainment, Latin music stars Camilo and Ozuna were set to perform for the crowd at the DRV PNK Stadium, located about an hour's drive north of downtown Miami. Although Inter Miami currently utilizes this temporary home on the site of the former Fort Lauderdale Strikers' stadium, they have plans to build their own purpose-built stadium, Freedom Park, in Miami, which is expected to open in 2025.
blogpay
Total Comments: 0