In the summer, Lionel had a very difficult choice, since the options for continuing his career differed greatly from each other. A return to Barcelona would mean the Argentine still wants to stay in big football and play in European competition. Saudi Arabia has offered several truckloads of cash in a couple of years, but the standard in that league is still extremely low. And the American “Inter” offered something in between these two options.
For this reason, Messi opted for the maximum comfort that he will find in Miami. A decent level of play, almost no pressure and solid money, especially considering the possible deductions from Apple and adidas, who are one of the main partners and sponsors of MLS. What else do you need for maximum comfort? Friends are close.
There is no doubt that Lionel has the fondest memories of his years at Barcelona, when everything went almost perfectly: the Catalan club won many trophies, Messi never dropped below the top of the top scorer lists, the maroons appeared in the Champions League finals with the same frequency and ease as I did in the supermarket on my way home from work. Of course, over the years spent in sunny Catalonia, Messi became friends with whom he conquered world football.
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The first of the old guard to join Leo was Sergio Busquets. Back in 2005, when the midfielder first appeared at La Masia, he was distinguished by his talent, so he quickly got into the main team of the club. According to Pep Guardiola, Messi noticed the newcomer’s abilities already in the first training session. Now Jordi Alba has also joined this couple in Florida. However, he joined the friendly Catalan family a little later: in 2012, relocating from Valencia after the successful Euro 2012. The full-back, who was connected forward, quickly hit it off with Messi, literally mesmerizing opponents with interaction with Leo on the pitch. Those walls proved especially effective at long range: Leo fed the ball to Alba, who ran with it while his teammate searched for free zones in the opposing defence, and then returned the ball to Messi, who was perilously close to goal at the time.
At the same time, it is worth noting the almost complete absence of selfishness in Busquets and Alba. The former was never concerned that among the scattering of Barça stars he was mentioned, perhaps, almost last, although before he was rightly considered the best defensive midfielder in Europe. And Alba quite calmly accepted the task of joining the attacks less frequently when the Messi-Suárez-Neymar trio formed in front.
Interestingly, the trend does not end there. There are persistent rumors that Andrés Iniesta may move from Japan to friends in David Beckham’s Florida club. Luis Suárez, who currently plays for the Brazilian Gremio, also seems to be close to the transition. By the way, the Uruguayan looks full on: seven goals in 12 games in the national championship. Also, don’t forget that Inter Miami is led by another Argentinian: Gerardo Martino. Most of the former Barcelona players came across him in the 2013/2014 season, when he led the blaugranas.
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Messi is a sacred cow for the MLS. In a good way. Therefore, he has the opportunity to invite here whoever he wants and in any quantity. In North America, the financial success and popularity of a team is not as tied to results as in Europe, so no one mentions that Inter Miami is in last place not only in the Eastern Conference, but in the entire league. By the way, among the local players, the Argentine also already has friends: it is reported that in training he communicates a lot and cheerfully with striker Joseph Martinez, who became the top scorer in MLS in 2018.
Now Lionel can enjoy the rest of his career: old friends from Barcelona are close, everyone is adored in a new place, the level of football is decent, but it does not require any special efforts, sunny weather and a big city that can offer vacations for every taste for him and his family.
