Lionel Messi is anticipated to make his Main League Soccer debut with Inter Miami at a July 21 house recreation, the crew confirmed on Tuesday.
Proprietor Jorge Mas instructed chosen shops on Monday that his membership and Messi have agreed to phrases and are finalizing paperwork and a visa. The crew confirmed sure particulars Tuesday to The Related Press, together with that Messi shall be signing a contract by the tip of the 2025 season with an possibility for 2026.
Messi’s contract shall be price $50 million to $60 million per yr, the crew mentioned Tuesday. He can’t signal till someday in July, after his contract with Paris Saint-Germain expires.
Messi, 35, introduced on June 7 that he was becoming a member of Miami. The Argentinian nice’s first recreation in Fort Lauderdale can be towards Cruz Azul within the Leagues Cup.
The crew additionally confirmed Tuesday that it’s rising capability at DRV PNK Stadium by 3,000 to three,200 seats within the subsequent 4 weeks by filling within the corners, elevating capability to about 22,000.
“I feel there’ll at all times be a earlier than and after Messi after we speak concerning the sport in the US,” Mas instructed the Miami Herald. “I’ve a really, very robust held perception that we are able to create in North America and the US if not the best league, one of many high two leagues on this planet. I can’t over emphasize the magnitude of this announcement.”
Miami is also finalizing a contract with midfielder Sergio Busquets, Messi’s former Barcelona teammate, the Herald mentioned, citing a league supply.
Mas additionally mentioned he hopes to start out building throughout the subsequent two weeks on Miami Freedom Park, the crew’s long-term house close to Miami Worldwide Airport, and is concentrating on to have the venue open in the summertime or fall of 2025, the Herald reported.
Miami plans to reinforce safety, bussing gamers into the stadium for video games, Mas mentioned.