Lionel Messi announces transfer to Inter Miami . Barcelona really wanted to return the legend, the Saudis offered a lot of money (400 million euros in Al-Hilal), but the great Argentine chose MLS. Why?
Messi patiently waited for the financial problems at Barcelona to be resolved. The club talked a lot about the need to return the striker, but in reality, Joan Laporta did not present any specific plan. The option of selling players, reducing salaries and connecting an administrative resource failed.
But if not Barça, then Saudi Arabia. Since going to football retirement, then where it is the biggest. Sheikhs offered fabulous money, and the Americans could not compete with Al-Hilal here, but other factors turned out to be more significant.
It's not just about money. Not so long ago there were rumors that Cristiano Ronaldo was dissatisfied with life in Saudi Arabia and wanted to return to Europe. And it's easy to believe. The East is a special world with its own rules, and no amount of money can change that. It's easier to move to Miami, which is much closer to Barcelona than Riyadh in terms of climate, language and culture.
Moreover, in terms of football, Saudi Arabia is not very developed. The stadiums are old, the interest of the fans is low, the level of football is frankly low due to the limit on foreign players and the weak level of local players. So the transition to “Inter” looks quite logical. Messi chooses not money, but peace and comfort.
Messi is the new face of MLS Moving to MLS is also retirement. Messi is going to the fringes of world football, will not play in the best leagues in Europe and the world, will not compete for another Champions League trophy. But this trip could bring more to the Argentine than meets the eye.
The level of local players in the US is higher than in Saudi Arabia, and the flexibility of the foreign player limit allows it to attract high-quality players. The clubs' ability is limited by the salary cap, but it evens out the strength of the teams, making the league unpredictable and competitive.
Inter's line-up is not impressive by name, and the team is currently in last place in the Eastern Conference. There are no recurring football stars and young prospects, and the most expensive player is a Canadian defender who has never played in Europe. But for Messi, this is not so critical: Miami will build the game through him, and Leo knows how to make partners better.
In MLS, Messi will be easier not only because of not the highest level of resistance, but also because for league style. Entertainment in the US is always at the forefront, so football there is double-edged, with a lot of space. Leo will reign supreme in such an open game. Moreover, Inter plans to invite the usual partners of the Argentine — Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Luis Suarez. With such a line-up, the Florida club will certainly compete for the playoffs this season.
And in three years, the US will host the World Cup. Americans will make serious efforts to improve football ratings in the country. Inviting Messi is one of the steps to popularize soccer. Leo will not just play football, but will actually become the face of the North American League. And who knows, maybe he will want to play in the World Cup again.