During an interview with his former Manchester United teammate Gary Neville on the podcast “Stick to Football,” David Beckham, part-owner of Inter Miami, shared his concerns about Lionel Messi’s decision making before joining the Major League Soccer club this summer. Beckham admitted that Messi’s decision-making process was a source of worry for him and the club until the announcement was made by the World Cup winner.
Beckham expressed on the podcast that bringing Messi to Miami was an emotional experience, more so than expected. Over the past decade, there have been numerous hurdles and setbacks to building up the team in Miami. Despite moments when it seemed like it might not come to fruition, everything finally fell into place once the right partners were found in Miami.
I woke up in Japan one morning to the exciting news that he was finally making an announcement. His dad had given us a heads up earlier in the week, saying, “Leo’s going to make a big reveal.” A couple of days later, his team hinted that he would share some news in the next few days, so we were all on edge waiting for the big moment. As I was working in Japan, the early morning silence was shattered by my buzzing phone. I had forgotten to put it on silent, and my wife Victoria was urging me to turn it off. I grabbed my phone and was greeted by a flood of messages – he had finally come out and made his big announcement in an interview.
David Beckham of Inter Miami shared insights on former Manchester United teammate Gary Neville’s podcast.
He discussed the journey of bringing Lionel Messi onto the team, sharing the worries and concerns he faced throughout the process.
Premier League player seeking treatment for laughing gas addiction Currently being watched by 79.1k viewers “We hoped he would choose to live with his family, continue playing football in his style, and win. But we wanted him to announce his decision in his own way.” “He was actually sitting in a hotel room with a friend, recording a video announcing he’s coming to Miami. It was truly unbelievable for us, and I was quite emotional because it took a lot of effort to reach this point.”
“We made an offer to Lionel, but he had other offers from Saudi Arabia and the opportunity to return to Barcelona. The Barcelona offer concerned me because it tugs at the heartstrings. It was ultimately up to him to decide.” Beckham also discussed the privilege of watching Messi train and play as an owner, offering a unique perspective. “I faced Lionel Messi while playing for PSG and Real Madrid against Barcelona,” recalled Beckham. “He was incredible then, but it’s a whole different experience seeing him up close, every move he makes, never giving the ball away.” Beckham shared how he dedicated the first five weeks of Messi’s training in Miami to watching him closely, impressed by the Argentine’s dedication and skill. “Even at 48 years old, I couldn’t resist watching him train and prepare. It’s truly something special.”
While in Japan, Beckham was rudely awakened by his buzzing phone, only to find out that Messi had decided to sign with Inter Miami in the summer of 2022. This news quickly set off a frenzy in the media.
Beckham mentioned that he planned to arrive at the training ground at 7:00am specifically to observe Messi during his training sessions.
When Messi joined in July, the club’s worth and appeal skyrocketed instantly.
Messi’s stellar performance led Miami to secure their first-ever trophy, the Leagues Cup. According to Beckham, Messi’s unwavering hunger and determination to win games have remained consistent since his time at Barcelona. Beckham admires Messi’s unique ability to see plays unfold before others do, which sets him apart from the rest of the players. Despite his injury setback, Messi’s impact on Miami’s team was evident as they fell short in the US Open Cup final without him. The Florida-based club experienced success shortly after Messi’s arrival, showcasing his continued drive and work ethic on the field.
However, Inter Miami’s quest to make it to the MLS Cup Playoffs has hit a roadblock due to Messi’s recent injury. His absence has put a damper on Miami’s chances of securing a spot in the playoffs, as they currently sit in 13th place with 33 points. Despite having a game in hand on teams above them, Miami will have to work hard in their remaining four games to climb up to the ninth spot, which is the final playoff position. Their upcoming matches include a road game against Chicago, a home match against Cincinnati, and two games against Charlotte FC (home and away) to end the season. It will be a tough road ahead for Miami without Messi, but they are determined to give it their all.
