Inter Miami fans have moved fast to celebrate the signing of Lionel Messi with a mural of the football superstar’s face already up on a city wall.
The World Cup winner confirmed in a sit-down interview that he would join Major League Soccer side Inter Miami.
It comes after the 35-year-old became a free agent after spending two seasons at French side Paris Saint-Germain.
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Speculation persisted that he would be rejoining Barcelona or potentially moving to Saudi Arabia, however, he dropped the bombshell update that he would be plying his trade in the MLS.
The news clearly has South Florida sports fans absolutely delighted as they didn’t take long to paint a mural on the wall of Miami Argentinian restaurant Fiorito.
No wonder they’re delighted.
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While the American league has attracted the likes of David Beckham, Wayne Rooney, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the past, there’s no doubt that the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner is the greatest acquisition in the league’s history.
The football GOAT is getting quite used to having murals of his face painted, with one going up as recently as this week in Buenos Aires.
The Argentinian was immortalised at the Villa del Parque train station, donning the South American country’s away jersey.
It goes to show the influence the forward has had on world football and further proves that his signing is one of the greatest in American sport’s history.
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It is said the South Florida lifestyle was an important factor on top of a deal involving contributions from two of MLS' biggest commercial partners – Apple TV, their current broadcast rights holder – and Adidas, the league's apparel sponsor.
Adidas is also said to be offering Messi a profit-sharing agreement, which would involve the player receiving a cut of any increase in Adidas' profits resulting from his involvement in America's top division.
The Argentine has spoken to Spanish publications SPORT and Mundo Deportivo about his latest venture.
As translated by Twitter account @barcacentre, Messi said: "I heard that Barcelona had to sell players or lower player salaries and the truth is that I didn't want to go through that.
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"Although I heard that it was said that La Liga had accepted everything and that everything was fine for me to return, there were still many other things that had to happen.
"I really wanted to return, I was very excited to be able to return, but, on the other hand, after having experienced what I experienced when I left, I didn't want to be in the same situation again. I didn't want to leave my future in someone else's hands."
He added: "I will not return to Barcelona, I will join Inter Miami.
"After winning the World Cup and not being able to go to Barca, it was time to go to the United States to live football in a different way and enjoy more day to day. Obviously with the same responsibility and desire to want to win and to always do things well. But more calmly."
Topics: Lionel Messi, Argentina, Inter Miami, MLS
Jayden Collins