Individual behind Lionel Messi's Inter Miami move pinpointed and it's not David Beckham

Lionel Messi departed European football this summer to make the move to the United States and play for Inter Miami - but the man behind the move has been identified and it's surprisingly not president and co-owner David Beckham.

The 36-year-old GOAT left Paris Saint-Germain after two seasons to move to the MLS and the relatively new franchise that is Inter Miami in the sunshine state of Florida.

The club was established in 2018, with England and Manchester United legend Beckham one of the co-owners and is now the president.

World Cup winner Messi's early time at Miami has gone well so far, winning the Leagues Cup with his new side and scoring 11 goals in 12 appearances so far.

Messi came through the famed La Masia academy at Barcelona and is not the only former Barca player to call Inter Miami his home now.

Fellow former Camp Nou stars Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba both made the move to the MLS side this summer after leaving the Catalan giants, and there is another familiar face in the dugout at the DRV PNK Stadium.

Tata Martino was installed as the new Inter Miami head coach over the summer, replacing Phil Neville in the role.

Martino managed Messi, Busquets and Alba at Barcelona during the 2013/14 season, after he replaced Tito Vilanova who had resigned due to health issues, and oversaw Barca winning the Spanish Super Cup in that campaign.

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And the appointment of Martino as Inter Miami head coach has been pinpointed as the key factor in bringing Messi to the club, according to Philadelphia Union boss Jim Curtin.

Speaking to the Miami Herald, Curtin said: "Sometimes people forget, he was the first piece. I think Messi comes because Tata's there.

"Busquets comes because Tata's there. And Alba, as well. He was the first move in this whole thing that really transformed the club.

"He's the leader, an incredible coach, an incredible person. When you think of Tata, you can see how his players respond and react to him almost like a father figure who is an incredible soccer mind, as well.

"When you think of his teams in Atlanta and now his team in Miami, the way they can manipulate a defence, the way they run at you for 90 minutes and be relentless with their attacking movements, that's something that's pretty clear to Tata's teams.

"You know when you're playing against a Tata Martino team you better be on your game defensively for 90 minutes because they are relentless from the opening whistle until the final whistle.

"And after the game he smiles and shakes your hand. He's a gentleman."