After Lionel Messi himself declared that he was going to Miami and would sign for Inter, the hype became huge. All the tickets have been sold already, even thou nobody knew in which game he would make his debut. The first reports said it would be against Cruz Azul, and it seems that it was true. Owner Jorge Mas spoke with Miami Herald and confirmed that they expect Lionel Messi to start against Azul but also announced up to five new players. 🚨 Lionel Messi will receive an annual salary of €65M with Inter Miami! 🤑 He has signed on for two years, with an additional season as an option. ✍️ His debut is scheduled for July 21 against Cruz Azul. 🇺🇸 (Source: @MiamiHerald) pic.twitter.com/OpcfbCI9LE— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) June 20, 2023 Funny enough, the deal with Messi is yet to be finalized, but the Herald, citing a source with knowledge of the negotiations, said Messi was joining on a two-and-a-half-year deal worth up to 60 million dollars a year. The deal also included an equity stake in Miami “upon the end of his playing days,” the Herald report said. Mas, meanwhile, told the paper that Messi’s contract would conform to MLS roster rules.”There are no categories or anything that is being changed to incorporate Lionel Messi onto Inter Miami’s roster. I think there will always be a before and after Messi when we talk about the sport in the United States. I have a very, very strong held belief that we can create in North America and the United States if not the greatest league, one of the top two leagues in the world. I cannot over-emphasize the magnitude of this announcement. Having the world’s greatest player here is something that is significant for our league, and for the football ecosystem in the United States. Lionel Messi is coming to this country to win cups and make a difference. I think it’s incumbent upon myself and my partners in the league, the other owners, to seize the moment” said Mas. Messi factor: All Inter’s tickets sold out, prices are up, and Insta followers grow by the minuteWhile waiting for Messi to sign and start his first match at the club officially, Inter is also actively seeking reinforcements, and they are all Messi’s former teammates, either in Barcelona or in the Argentina squad. Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, Luis Suarez and Angel di Maria have all been linked with a move to Miami. Still, in reality, Busquets is mulling over a move to Saudi Arabia for big bucks, while Suarez is contemplating retirement due to consistent knee pain. Garnacho is mesmerised: Cristiano Ronaldo was his GOAT until he saw Messi in the fleshHowever, Mas said the club expected to make between three to five additional signings.”We’ve been preparing our roster for Messi’s arrival in ’23, so we left an enormous amount of flexibility. We will be making additional signings during the summer window, more than what people anticipate… I can say we will potentially be making between three and five signings” Mas told the Herald.##NAJAVA_MECA_7331225##
