Thousands defy bad weather to witness Messi unveiling by Inter Miami

The longtime FC Barcelona superstar and World Cup winner Lionel Messi was introduced as a new Designated Player for Inter Miami on Sunday night — the culmination of a long process intended to bring the game’s greatest player to North America.

Messi: “I have no doubt that we are going to have a good time”

But it wasn’t easy. The unveiling saw delays due to storms in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale Metropolitan Area, and it appeared for a time as if the ceremony would have to be postponed — if not canceled altogether.

However, the league’s biggest-ever transfer was indeed introduced as planned — and it sounds like Messi is happy to form a part of Major League Soccer history.

Messi: “I have no doubt that we are going to have a good time”

Walking out in the rain at DRV PNK Stadium, Messi explained his happiness at having arrived in Miami and said he couldn’t wait to get started.

“I want to thank all the people in Miami for this welcome, this affection since I arrived here. I am very excited to be with you,” he said. “I want to thank Jose (Mas), Jorge (Mas), and David (Beckham) for this recognition, for making everything easy, for making us feel at home. I really want to start training, competing, I really want to win and for this club to keep growing.”

Messi played the previous two seasons at PSG and was unable to add a fifth European Cup to his already-expansive trophy cabinet. Despite links with Saudi Arabia — as well as a return to Barcelona –, the 36-year-old has opted for a fresh challenge in MLS, which is experiencing significant growth as it nears its 30th season.

“When David and I first met and we dreamt of what Inter Miami represents, it started off with the freedom to dream,” principal owner Jorge Mas said Sunday. “And we dreamed of not only bringing elite players and the best players but the best player to ever don boots – and his name is Lionel Andrés Messi.”

Messi, who also won La Liga 10 times, instantly becomes Major League Soccer’s marquee player — albeit on its worst team, which is hoping his arrival will correspond with an immediate surge up the standings.

“I hope that throughout the tournament you (the fans) will continue to accompany us,” Messi continued. “Personally, I believe that my teammates are going to give everything to build this project and I am very happy to have chosen this city, have chosen this project I have no doubt that we are going to have a great time and we are going to experience very nice things.”

Inter Miami gained a few thousand new supporters in the wake of the Messi announcement, and fans turned up in droves at DRV PNK Stadium to welcome the soccer legend on Sunday — even though the weather was less than ideal.

“Tonight is a typical Miami welcome for one of the greatest players to ever have played the game,” Beckham said. “The fact that we have our fans in here, celebrating this moment … This is what we have created and we’re very proud of that.”

The fan culture at Inter Miami is becoming more solidified given it has shown an ability to attract players of Messi’s stature — as well as his longtime Barcelona teammate Sergio Busquets, who was also introduced on Sunday night.

Inter Miami are also due to move into a new stadium by 2025, with hopes that more top-tier talent will accompany Messi as club leadership tries to engineer a dramatic turnaround.

Soource 234sportsng.com