Inter Miami continues its march to position itself as the most important club in Major League Soccer: to the announcement that David Beckham expanded his shareholding in the franchise, new information was added about the possibility of Lionel Messi playing there in a few years.
“Beckham and brothers Jorge and Jose Mas have completed their buyout” of now former co-owners Marcelo Claure and Masayoshi Son, Inter Miami said in a statement.
At the same time, in a separate news release, Ares Management said this Friday that it has made a $150 million “preferred equity investment” in Inter Miami.
“We are immensely proud of the progress we’ve made over the past year and a half in Major League Soccer, and we are grateful to have had Marcelo and Masayoshi with us for the first part of our journey,” said Inter Miami CF Owner David Beckham.
“I am more committed than ever to working with my partners and friends Jorge and Jose to build a lasting legacy, developing youth players from our Academy, competing for championships regularly, and most importantly, rooting ourselves into the DNA of our community and South Florida.”
The consolidation of Inter Miami’s project and the former England star’s involvement go hand in hand with a medium-term bet: that Messi will play in Miami, a city that is a favorite of the Messi family, who spent part of their vacation there a few weeks ago.
The former Barcelona star and Olympic champion in Beijing 2008 has just moved to Paris Saint-Germain on a two-year contract with an option for a third. Specialized media put his annual salary at $41 million, although with different concepts and bonuses the figure would reach $75 million.
Argentine Gonzalo Higuain, Messi’s former teammate in the Argentine national team, and now star of Inter Miami, revealed in an interview this week that the U.S. club is working to attract the world’s best player to Miami.
“I finish my contract in a year and Leo I think he signed two or three years at Paris Saint-Germain. I don’t think we would coincide, but well... The club wants him. Let’s see, that doesn’t depend on me,” Higuain told ESPN.
Messi, 34, has just won the Copa America for the first time with his national team, and has the Qatar 2022 World Cup, between November and December next year, as his target.
PSG is owned by the Qatari royal family. The next World Cup, 2026, will be played in Mexico, Canada and the United States. Being part of MLS before 2026 would imply an important business synergy for the U.S. League, Inter Miami itself and the player.
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