“We snuck into a hotel, met Jorge Messi and started the conversation” – David Beckham on his covert trip to convince Lionel Messi about Inter Miami
David Beckham, co-owner of the Major League Soccer (MLS) club Inter Miami CF, has shed light on how Lionel Messi's move to the USA originated in a conversation 10 years ago.
Having parted ways with Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the 2022-23 season, Messi turned down a return to Barcelona and advances from Saudi Arabia to join Inter Miami.
A decade ago, Beckham, who was then playing for LA Galaxy, met Messi's father Jorge for the first time and expressed his desire to see the Argentine superstar play in the MLS.
The former England star recalled telling Jorge that he could not think of anyone better than Messi to play for his club.
Nine years after that conversation, Beckham flew to Barcelona from London in September 2019 for a secret meeting with Jorge to lay the foundations for Messi's Miami move.
The Englishman also stated the importance of Jorge Mas, co-owner of Inter Miami, in securing the deal.
When Messi announced that he will join Inter Miami in the MLS through interviews with SPORT and Mundo Deportivo, Beckham was on the other side of the globe with his wife.
The former Real Madrid and Manchester United player disclosed that he was pleasantly surprised by Lionel Messi's announcement and had no prior intimation of his decision.
After leaving Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the 2022-23 season, Lionel Messi was linked with a return to Barcelona, a club where he spent 21 years after coming through their ranks. He remains the Catalan giants' record appearance holder (778 matches) and top scorer (672 goals).
Messi won the Ballon d'Or six times during his time at Barca, and also helped them to four UEFA Champions League and 10 La Liga titles, among other honours.
Barca president Joan Laporta recently revealed that
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