Lionel Messi joins Inter Miami, club confirms
Lionel Messi has signed with Inter Miami CF, the club has announced.
The Argentine superstar has joined David Beckham's club, and his contract will run until 2025.
The World Cup winner said in a statement from the club: "I'm very excited to start this next step in my career with Inter Miami and in the United States.
"This is a fantastic opportunity and together we will continue to build this beautiful project. The idea is to work together to achieve the objectives we set, and I'm very eager to start helping here in my new home."
Beckham said he was overjoyed at Messi's arrival and described him as a "good friend [and] an amazing person".
He said: "Ten years ago, when I started my journey to build a new team in Miami, I said that I dreamt of bringing the greatest players in the world to this amazing city.
"Players who shared the ambition I had when I joined LA Galaxy to help grow football in the USA and to build a legacy for the next generation in this sport that we love so much.
"Today that dream came true."
The England and Manchester United legend added: "I couldn't be prouder that a player of Leo's calibre is joining our club."
The 36-year-old forward's contract expired with Paris Saint-Germain at the end of June.
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Inter Miami CF Managing Owner Jorge Mas said: "I am honoured to welcome Leo Messi and his family to their new home."
Earlier in the year, Phil Neville was sacked as manager of Inter Miami, who are co-owned by his former Manchester United and England teammate Beckham.
The Florida side are currently bottom of the 15-team Eastern Conference, with just five wins from 16 matches.
Messi will first be available for selection for Inter Miami on 21 July when they take on Mexican side Cruz Azul in the opening match of the Leagues Cup.
The Leagues Cup is a new tournament in which the MLS and LIGA MX, the Mexican top division, will pause their respective league seasons from 21 July 21 to 19 August to determine the three clubs that will qualify for the 2024 CONCAF Champions Cup.
