Lionel Messi’s move to MLS was three years in the making – Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas
Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas has said Lionel Messi’s move to MLS was three years in the making and that he hopes the Argentine can have a similar influence to Michael Jordan and David Beckham.
Messi, 36, will be unveiled as an Inter Miami player later this month after announcing his decision to move to MLS in June.
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Mas, one of the masterminds behind Messi moving to the United States, has also revealed the club has been in talks with Jordi Alba, Luis Suarez and Angel Di Maria over potential moves to South Florida.
Speaking to El Pais, Mas said: “In 2019 we started to think about how we could bring him (Messi) to Miami, a global city on the rise. When people think about football in the United States, we want them to think about Miami.
“There’s a family element that’s very important — Messi will be in his own hemisphere, almost in the same time zone as Rosario. It was more important to sell him on the idea of soccer in the United States. This is the best commercial market on the planet. Messi can make MLS one of the two or three biggest leagues in the world.
“I imagine a life after soccer for Messi very similar to those of David (Beckham) or Micheal Jordan. He can continue is work in a market that won’t stop growing. He’ll have opportunities he wouldn’t have elsewhere.
“(The negotiations lasted) three years. One-and-a-half years negotiating intensely. Lots of conversations with Jorge (Messi, Lionel’s dad). I viewed it as done at the end of May. David (Beckham, Inter Miami co-owner) talked to Leo, only over footballing topics, because he was still playing at PSG. He didn’t want him to feel any pressure. We’ve spoken in Barcelona, Miami, Rosario, Doha… I spent the entire World Cup in Qatar watching Argentina. In terms
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