Inter Miami unveil Lionel Messi to sold-out crowd
New signing Lionel Messi has been officially presented to cheering crowds at Inter Miami’s DRV PNK Stadium.
A sold-out crowd of about 20,000 waited through downpours and lightning to see the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner given a number 10 shirt.
In a brief address in Spanish, Messi, 36, thanked supporters and said he had the “same desire” he always has.
The World Cup-winning Argentina forward joins the Major League Soccer (MLS) club on a deal until the end of 2025.
He will be reunited with defensive midfielder Sergio Busquets – with whom he played at Barcelona – who has also signed for Miami until 2025.
Busquets, too, was formally unveiled during Sunday night’s event.
“I am very happy to have chosen to come to play in this city with my family, to choose this project and I have no doubt that we are going to enjoy it a lot.
“We are going to have a good time and very good things are going to happen.”
The DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale is Inter Miami’s temporary stadium and has a capacity of 18,000, making it the joint-smallest in MLS along with San Jose Earthquakes’ PayPal Park in California.
Messi entered the pitch via a huge catwalk and was introduced as “America’s number 10, the world’s best number 10”.
Seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady and four-time NBA champion Stephen Curry also welcomed him to the United States in video messages.
“I really want to start training, to compete,” Messi said. “I have the same desire that I always had to compete, to want to win, to help the club continue to grow.
Messi is expected to be available to play for Miami against LIGA MX side Cruz Azul on 21 July in their opening match of Leagues Cup.
He reunites with his former Barca and Argentina boss Gerardo Martino after the 60-year-old was appointed manager in June following the sacking of Phil Neville.
