Lionel Messi’s arrival at Inter Miami is another event waiting to break the internet and his new teammate, Josef Martinez, believes it will be transformative for the club.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner landed in South Florida on Tuesday ahead of his announcement as a player of the MLS franchise Inter Miami and his presentation to the club’s fans.
The club has been preparing for the move since it was first confirmed to be happening in early June. Ticket sales and merchandising has been at an all-time high and there are also rumours that plans to expand the 18,000-seater DRV PNK Stadium have gotten underway.
The MLS as a whole is preparing for Messi’s arrival and Martinez, who will be sharing a dressing room with the football icon, has expressed confidence that the Argentine will bring good fortune for the club on and off the field.
Speaking after a team practice session on Wednesday, the striker could barely contain his excitement at his luck in partnering Messi. “It’s a big change,” Martinez said. “Not for the club but for the city too. We must enjoy.
“The day that [Lionel Messi] is here, I will be able to tell you a little more.
“He has an impact on a country, he will definitely have an impact with his presence on this young team. We have to try to learn from a person like him.”
It is believed that Martinez’s sentiments stem from the club’s struggles on and off the field before Messi announced officially that he will be joining them.
They are currently last in their conference and were suffering from fan apathy due to their inability to muster enough winning performances. This also affected their marketing and merchandising efforts.
Messi is expected to be announced on Thursday and will get straight to work with his new teammates as the MLS season is in full gear.
Messi has also assured Miami fans that he will not treat his stint at the club as a holiday. At 36, he is the most successful footballer in history and has achieved all there is to achieve. Many expect him to take things easy in America, but the 2022 FIFA World Cup Golden Ball winner is only seeing another team trophy and more individual awards to capture for his collection.
“My mentality and my head are not going to change and I am going to try, wherever I have to be, give my best for myself and my new club, continue to perform at the highest level,” he said to reporters back in Argentina.
“We [my family] are happy with the decision we made. Prepared and eager to face the new challenge, the new change.”
