Major League Soccer side Inter Miami has officially announced the signing of Argentina superstar Lionel Messi.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or champion will be unveiled by the Florida team on Sunday. When Messi is introduced to his new team, the Mail Online reports that former Barcelona stars Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba will also be introduced in front of the supporters as the club’s new acquisitions. From 2012 until 2021, the three of them played together in Spain, where they shared five La Liga championships, six Copa del Reys, and one Champions League.
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The “The Unveil” extravaganza is said to feature entertainment and speeches delivered on-field. In order to accommodate the demand, the arena’s capacity will be increased by 3,000. The player will occupy a Designated Player slot on the roster.
“We are overjoyed that the greatest player in the world chose Inter Miami CF and Major League Soccer, and his decision is a testament to the momentum and energy behind our League and our sport in North America,” said MLS commissioner Don Garber in a statement.
“We have no doubt that Lionel will show the world that MLS can be a league of choice for the best players in the game. We look forward to seeing his debut for Inter Miami in our Leagues Cup tournament later this month.”
The players will compete for former Barcelona head coach Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino, who took over as manager on June 28 after Phil Neville resigned. Miami will benefit from the additions since they currently occupy the bottom spot in the Eastern Conference standings with just 18 points after 21 games and a record of 5W-13L-3D. The squad needs to move up to one of the top nine spots on the table before it can secure a spot in the MLS playoffs.
