Mentioned in Interview with Spanish Media... "Will Enjoy Daily Life"
"Reports of Contracts with 'MLS Sponsors' Apple and Adidas"
'The God of Soccer' Lionel Messi finally announced on the 7th (local time) that he will head to Inter Miami of Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States. Although there was speculation about a possible move to Saudi Arabia with an offer of $400 million (about 522.4 billion KRW) from his hometown team Barcelona, he ultimately chose to go to the U.S.
In an exclusive interview with the Spanish sports newspaper Mundo Deportivo on the same day, Messi stated, "I have decided to go to Miami. It is not 100% finalized yet, and there are still some elements remaining, but I have decided to continue on that path." Inter Miami was founded in January 2018 and played its debut MLS season in 2020.
Earlier, the sports media outlet The Athletic cited sources familiar with the negotiations between Messi and MLS, reporting that the possibility of moving to Miami had increased. The source even mentioned that they were discussing specific matters to mark Messi's debut in the league cup home game between Inter Miami and Cruz Azul on July 21.
The Athletic viewed that major multinational corporations sponsoring MLS, Apple and Adidas, played a significant role in Messi's move to Miami.
Apple's online video service (OTT), Apple TV+, will be responsible for broadcasting MLS for the next 10 years starting this season. The Athletic reported that Apple considered a plan to provide Messi with a portion of the revenue from the 'season pass' (a package for broadcasting the entire season). Another sponsor, Adidas, is also said to have considered sharing revenue generated through MLS.
Another sports media outlet, ESPN, reported that Messi could receive shares in the club along with English football star David Beckham, co-owner of Inter Miami, and businessman Jorge Mas Santos.
The specific terms of Messi's deal have not been disclosed. However, if these terms were accepted, it is believed that in addition to salary and advertising revenue, which are typical financial compensations for star players, he would have secured a fixed portion of the league's broadcasting revenue.
MLS welcomed Messi's move to Miami in a statement, saying, "Although there are still tasks to finalize the official contract, we look forward to welcoming one of the greatest football players in history to our league."
BBC in the UK explained that the reason Messi chose Miami was "due to factors other than football, such as contracts with major brands and lifestyle." According to BBC, Messi has already secured a residence in Miami, Florida, which is also famous as a resort destination in the U.S.
In fact, Messi said in the interview with Mundo Deportivo, "If going to Barcelona does not work out well, I want to leave Europe, step out of the spotlight, and think more about my family," adding, "After winning the World Cup and being unable to return to Barcelona, it is time to go to the U.S. league, live differently, and enjoy daily life more."
Messi left Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) after the final home game of the 2022-2023 French Ligue 1 season against Clermont.
Initially, Saudi Arabia was considered the most likely destination for Messi. In April, while Messi, who was a Saudi Tourism Ambassador, was absent from training and filming promotional videos in Saudi Arabia, the French news agency AFP urgently reported that Messi had signed a 'blockbuster' contract with a Saudi club, causing a stir. Reports also emerged that Saudi Arabia offered Messi an annual salary of $400 million, making his move to Saudi Arabia almost a foregone conclusion.
As Messi revealed in the interview, he hoped to return to his hometown team Barcelona, but due to Barcelona's financial problems, the return was ultimately canceled.
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