Messi and his ex-Barcelona teammate Busquets have signed deals that will keep them at Inter Miami until 2025, announced the MLS club on Saturday. A sold-out crowd of around 20,000 eagerly awaited the official welcome of Lionel Messi to Inter Miami, despite a delay caused by torrential rain and heavy lightning. The ceremony, named La PresentaSIon, took place at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where Miami also unveiled the signing of former FC Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets. The Spaniard, 35 years old, has secured a deal that runs through the 2025 season.
Busquets and Messi’s reunion in Miami comes after playing together for 15 seasons at Barcelona. UEFA Champions League winners and La Liga winners, the duo built a strong bond both on and off the field. Inter Miami’s co-owner, David Beckham, expressed his excitement and called Messi’s arrival a “dream come true” during the ceremony. Beckham, who made a high-profile move to MLS with the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2007, welcomed Messi to the Miami family and received thunderous applause from the crowd.
Upon being introduced, Messi addressed the crowd before the team played a tribute video on the stadium scoreboard screen. The video included well-known figures such as Tom Brady, Stephen Curry, DJ Khaled, and Gloria and Emilio Estefan, all welcoming Messi to the United States. Messi expressed his gratitude for the support and love he has received, stating that he is thrilled to be in Miami and eager to start training and competing. He expressed his determination to help the club continue to grow and promised that great things are to come.
Inter Miami officially confirmed Messi’s signing on Saturday, revealing that the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner had committed to the club until 2025. Alongside Messi, Busquets will also join the team, bringing his immense experience to the midfield. A member of Spain’s World Cup-winning squad in 2010, Busquets has earned 143 international caps and retired from international play after the 2022 World Cup. With his contract at Barcelona not being renewed this season, joining Messi at Inter Miami was the perfect opportunity for Busquets to continue his career.
Managing owner Jorge Mas expressed his excitement about the signing of Busquets, applauding the club’s effort in bringing top-quality players to Inter Miami. Busquets, in a press release, expressed his enthusiasm for this new chapter in his career and his commitment to help the ambitious club achieve success. He highlighted his positive impression of the club during his visit with Barcelona last year and his eagerness to represent Inter Miami.
Inter Miami is currently enduring a challenging MLS campaign, holding the worst record in the 29-team league. With a record of 5-14-3 and 18 points, the team is winless in their last 11 MLS matches. However, the arrival of Messi and Busquets is expected to inject new energy and talent into the team, with hopes of turning the season around. The Miami supporters are optimistic about the future and believe that the star-studded signings will lead to brighter days ahead for Inter Miami.