Inter Miami’s David Beckham, Jorge Mas Sit Down To Talk Messi and More

DRV Pink Stadium – Inter Miami CF owners David Beckham and Jorge Mas sat down for an interview session with some press members on July 18  and opened up about Lionel Messi and the wonderful whirlwind his decision to come to play for Inter Miami CF created for the team and Major League Soccer.

David and Jorge walked into Miami’s locker room and greeted each one of us with a handshake and a Thank You in appreciation for our coverage of the team. It was a pleasant start to a fascinating conversation of which I will highlight some key points as we sit on the brink of Lionel Messi’s debut for Inter Miami in Leagues Cup versus Cruz Azul.

The Challenges

Initially, the duo was asked about the challenges they faced in pursuing Lionel Messi in order to get to this point. Jorge Mas took the lead  saying,

It’s been a whirlwind, since the last day of May when we knew Leo Messi was going to announce that he was going to be a part of Inter Miami in the summer of 2023.

Mas spoke on how Inter Miami has focused on “the most minute details”  to accommodate Messi and his family with professionalism and class to make them feel at home. Housing, the children’s school, every detail has been thought of to ensure the transition is smooth for the whole family. The Beckham, Mas, and Messi families enjoyed a spectacular lunch together Saturday before the big event Sunday night at Drive Pink Stadium.

Inter Miami was in advanced talks with Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba while conducting a coaching search during the Messi contract negotiations, with all the moving parts coming together when Tata Martino and Sergio Busquets joined Lionel in Miami. During the meeting, Mas announced that Jordi Alba would also be signing and joining Inter Miami.

The puzzle 🧩 is coming along nicely…almost there…patience is a virtue…Messi & Friends will soon be here… Kind of like the Avengers… “Avengers Assemble!” #MLS #Messi𓃵 #InterMiamiCF pic.twitter.com/QiU7BO2ZyS

— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) July 7, 2023

The Debut

Jorge Mas assured that Messi would debut against Cruz Azul in the Leagues Cup on July 21, how much he plays is up to Tata and Lionel. Jorge emphasized that the team is very focused on making a very successful run in the tournament, and for that to happen I believe Leo and Sergio will likely start the match. Inter Miami has to make a good first impression, the world will be watching Messi’s first game with the team.

Reinforcements

Mas was asked about the rumors linking Luis Suarez to Miami and he immediately clarified that Suarez was under contract with Gremio. Jorge pointed out that the obvious relationship Suarez has with Messi, Busquets, and Alba from their Barcelona days would be a reason to link him with the team, but he distanced Miami from any actual approach for the player,

He is a player under contract with Gremio, we have not been in contact with Gremio or Luis

Later in the conversation Mas was once again asked about Luis Suarez and this time he stated that if Suarez were to become free of his contract with Gremio, then Inter Miami would have an interest in his services.

Jorge Mas confirmed in the session that Paraguayan International Diego Gomez would sign with the club later that day and that Facundo Farias, a young highly touted Argentine prospect had reached a verbal agreement to also join Inter Miami. Mas went on to mention that the club was interested in two other young Argentines, Brian Aguirre and Tomas Aviles.  Aviles is the most likely candidate to sign with Miami as their third U-22 Initiaitve player because Aguirre’s club Newell’s Old Boys is asking for a very high price for his services.

Signed sealed & delivered… Diego Gomez the young CDM from Paraguay 🇵🇾 will add some muscle & physicality to the #InterMiamiCF midfield…More signings coming 🔜 as the team resets to make a run in all competitions…#Messi𓃵 #MLS https://t.co/V7NmWBcFjK

— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) July 20, 2023

The Focus

Inter Miami has been working for over a year for Messi’s arrival despite not having the certainty it would become a reality. The ensuing supporting cast was also in the plans according to Jorge Mas,

We’ve been preparing for more than a year to add all these players within all the MLS rules. The reason we didn’t make any moves during the Winter Transfer Period is because we anticipated the arrival of these players…All of our focus is to have success this season and have the best roster in the MLS

The Master Plan for Inter Miami CF is coming to fruition, Lionel Messi and Friends have arrived with more reinforcements on the way. These moves have been made with the urgency of immediate dividends, the owners expect the team to compete for trophies in Leagues Cup, US Open Cup, and to make the playoffs to compete for the MLS Cup. These are lofty goals and expectations for a team that sits in last place in the league, but when you add Lionel Messi to your squad and give him help, anything is possible.

Lionel’s Legacy

David Beckham spoke about the gift Lionel has given the sport in the USA with 3.5 billion views of his presentation as an Inter Miami CF player Sunday night. Beckham talked about his own journey to America and how he wanted to promote and elevate the game in the nation. David says Lionel’s legacy can be to take the game to unprecedented heights in America.

 When I talk about he’s come (Lionel) it’s about legacy..He’s at the stage in his career where he’s done everything any soccer player can do in the sport… He’s still hungry…I know he’s still hungry …He’s hungry for winning more trophies and also he’s hungry to help the next generation, he’s hungry to leave a legacy…

It’s fantastic to know that Lionel Messi has the desire to continue to strive for greatness, but that was never a question in my mind. Lionel Messi has been excellence personified throughout his professional career on and off the pitch and that will not change now. The expectations are enormous and perhaps the team might not meet them all, but one thing is for sure everyone watching will be entertained.

The Opportunity

The moment is not lost on David Beckham or Jorge Mas, Messi’s move to the MLS is an enormous opportunity for Inter Miami and the league. Mas understands that the global community has turned its eyes toward Miami,

All of the eyes are on us now… It is important for ourselves and our partners in Major League Soccer to seize the moment

The moment is now for the MLS to make wholesale changes in the way it functions to bust open the doors for other superstar players to enter the league. The DP rule was instituted for Beckham, now the GOAT rule needs to be applied. MLS owners should have great freedom to shape their rosters in the best way they see fit in my opinion.  The owners can hash out the deal among themselves, but something big needs to happen soon. The MLS cannot let this moment pass by without making changes that will help this league continue to evolve and grow into one of the best in the world. That would be their legacy.