At the age of 36, Lionel Messi is about to open a new chapter in his career with a third club. The Argentinian has chosen Inter Miami after Barça, where he trained and won everything, and then PSG (2021-2023). After two seasons in Ligue 1, a few feats of arms but still no Champions League for Paris Saint-Germain, striker Lionel Messi is leaving the club on the back of a final defeat on Saturday against Clermont (3-2), where he was again whistled at by the fans. The Messi-PSG relationship was becoming chaotic and was no longer beneficial to either of them, least of all to Online Sports Betting.
Failure... Whose fault is it?
Messi’s time at PSG was a failure, particularly in his first season, which fell well short of expectations. His second season, which has just come to an end, is difficult to judge because even though he scored 16 goals and made 16 assists in 32 games in Ligue 1, his overall performances were disappointing. It was PSG, too, who fell well short of expectations and didn’t convince in any match or competition, and this inevitably had an impact on the way Messi’s contribution to PSG was judged.
However, the Argentine’s comments in an interview with SPORT and Mundo Deportivo confirm that his move to Paris has become more of a constraint than a pleasure. His discomfort confirms one thing: the graft never took, and the “Pulga” was a casting error for Paris, and an error of course for him. Indeed, the Rosario native readily admits that it was “a hasty decision” when he left Barça, a club he has never stopped “loving”.
Marketing side
The recruitment of Leonel Messi also represented the marketing side of the club. Following the Argentine star’s departure, some 2 million Internet users stopped following the French club’s various accounts. When the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner arrived in France, subscriptions soared, as Messi had 400 times more fans on his accounts than the club, and was able to monetize this with various sponsors. A contract with Crypto.com went from €2.5 million at the start of negotiations, to €8 million after La Pulga’s signature.
Today, it’s the world champion’s new club that will benefit from his image. And it didn’t take long. Immediately after the rumors of his departure from Inter Miami, the American franchise’s social networks went into a frenzy. The Twitter account went from 1 million followers to 2.6 in just a few hours.
Messi, a world champion in Miami
It’s official: Leo Messi will be playing for Inter Miami for the next two seasons. The Argentine, at the end of his contract with Paris Saint-Germain, has finally decided to accept Inter Miami’s offer. Lured by Saudi Arabia and a contract worth over a billion euros, the 2022 world champion has decided to join the United States and David Beckham’s franchise, where he will earn a salary of $50 million per season. In an interview with Sport and Mundo Deportivo, Leo Messi revealed his choice.
Messi wanted to stay in Europe and had agreed to extend his contract with PSG, but the agreement in principle never materialized. His adventure in Paris ended sadly, with a one-week suspension and whistles for his last game at the Parc des Princes. Barça were keen to seize the opportunity to bring the Pulga back to Catalonia. But the Catalan club, plagued by financial problems, was unable to finalize the deal, unsure of being able to sign him on time. And while Saudi Arabia offered him a golden bridge, Messi turned his attention to Florida and Miami, a city his family love.
La Pulga well accompanied?
Leo Messi joins the team headed by David Beckham, who dismissed Phil Neville in recent weeks. To replace him, he may appoint a coach whom the Argentina international knows very well, having worked with him at Barça and with the national team: Tata Martino. Messi may also come to Florida in good company. His two former team-mates, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, who have ended their association with Barcelona, may find themselves reunited with the Argentine world champion on the other side of the Atlantic. Luis Suarez, who has a special clause to leave Gremio, is also likely to join the North American franchise.
Leonel Messi’s signing for Miami also confirms that his desire to win major trophies is now over. Major League Soccer, while interesting, represents more of an end to his career, further confirming that the Messi era is drawing to a close. However, it is undeniable that the presence of the world football legend in this league will attract a maximum number of passionate punters, and the best choice if you are one of them is to register for an account at the best betting platform.
