Beckham: 'Messi agreeing to go to Miami was the most wonderful moment'

Former Man Utd midfielder and now co-owner of Inter Miami, David Beckham admitted that convincing Lionel Messi to join Inter Miami was one of the greatest moments of his life.

"I never thought I would feel as a co-owner as I did as a player," Beckham told The Athletic . "When I got the phone call confirming Messi was coming to Inter Miami, it was like walking out onto Old Trafford or Wembley. I thought to myself, 'I've just beaten everyone to sign the greatest player in history. This is going to be the biggest deal in American sports history.'"

Asked if it was one of the best moments of his life, the Englishman replied: "Definitely."

Beckham was happy to walk next to Messi at the introduction ceremony of the new Argentine player on July 16. Photo: AFP — Beckham was happy to walk next to Messi at the introduction ceremony of the new Argentine player on July 16. Photo: *AFP*

Inter Miami was founded in 2018. They joined MLS two years later, finishing 19th, 20th and sixth in three seasons. Inter Miami is currently bottom of the table after 22 games in the 2023 season, with five wins, three draws and 14 losses. Just before signing Messi, Inter Miami had gone 11 games without a win.

Beckham has revealed that he has always wanted to bring Messi to MLS and raised the idea with co-owner Jorge Mas over dinner 10 years ago. According to the former Man Utd midfielder, every sports franchise owner wants to sign the best players and saw Messi as the perfect person to convince to come to Inter Miami.

It wasn't until 2019 that Beckham traveled to Barcelona to personally tell Jorge Messi, Messi's agent and father, that he wanted to bring the Argentine star to Inter Miami. "We snuck into a hotel, met Jorge Messi and started a conversation," Beckham said. "The conversation was, 'We want Messi to come to Inter Miami. We know Messi can't come right away, but one day he can come to Inter Miami.'"

Beckham said he has always loved America and wants to use his experience from playing at the highest level in Europe to change the face of MLS. He also compared Messi's move to Inter Miami to his own move to LA Galaxy in 2007, emphasizing that the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner wants to win and is committed to Inter Miami's long-term project.

Meanwhile, Barca president Joan Laporta admitted it was strange to see Messi in an Inter Miami shirt. He affirmed that Barca members wanted Messi to return to Camp Nou, but everyone respected the decision and wished the 36-year-old striker all the best.

This summer, Messi was rumored to return to Barca when his contract with PSG expired. However, the 36-year-old striker said that many people at Barca did not want him to return, and that he had not received an official invitation, so he decided to go to Inter Miami.

However, Laporta believes that Barca have been approved by La Liga for a financial balance sheet and can sign Messi. According to the Barca president, Messi's father, Jorge Messi, said that his son had a very difficult year in Paris, wanted to relieve the pressure and could not do that if he returned to Camp Nou. "Everything in Miami is different, it's a new league, it's improving and Messi can help the league develop," Laporta told ESPN on July 28. "Everything that is good for Messi makes us happy, and that's good for Barca. We always have Messi in our hearts and Messi also knows that Barca is his home."

Hong Duy

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