Soccer superstar Lionel Messi is now the talk of the town in the sporting community. Ever since he became a free agent with the Paris Saint-Germain, rumors about the 2022 World Cup champion’s future took center stage in soccer circles. Messi’s former club, FC Barcelona and the Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal were reportedly on the pursuit to land him. Al Hilal had even offered the Argentine a contract worth a whopping ?1 billion. Leo Messi, however, turned his back on the offer and has chosen the MLS side Inter Miami as his next destination.

David Beckham’s Inter Miami has not offered Messi as lucrative a sum as Al Hilal. But, the 7x- Ballon d’Or winner might end up making more in Miami. Having had a sneak peek into Messi’s financial prospects, a former NBA champion couldn’t contain his bewilderment.

Lionel Messi’s complicated contract with Inter Miami shocks an NBA legend

Lionel Messi has reportedly signed a two-and-a-half year contract with Inter Miami. As per reports, the deal is valued between $125 million and $150 million. However, there is more to the Argentine’s move to Miami. An Instagram handle named ‘Pechefootball’ has broken down Leo’s monetary prospects in Miami. According to the video, MLS has partnered with Adidas since its inception. Messi, on the other hand, has a lifetime deal with Adidas. Apparently, LM10 will reportedly enter a profit sharing agreement with Adidas after he joins the MLS.

Additionally, Apple has also shaken hands with the soccer icon, as per reports. Apple TV paid $2.5 billion for the rights to broadcast. Besides, as a move to bring in the MLS audience, Apple TV is set to air a four-part docuseries about Messi and his world cup triumph, which will subsequently add to their MLS viewership. A boom in business for Apple means a boom in business for Messi as well. On top of all this, Inter Miami may offer Messi a chance to be one of the owners of the side, like David Beckham.

Leo Messi’s deal has caught the attention of the Boston Celtics legend Kevin Garnett. Despite having a net worth of $125 million, the 2008 NBA champion was left in sheer disbelief after seeing Leo’s lucrative Inter Miami move. KG shared Pechefootball’s post on his story. “Damn… see how they lay it out for soccer players to come over here… Shyts crazy,” Garnett wrote on the story.

Miami ace welcomes Leo Messi

Kevin Garnett is not the only NBA stalwart to comment on the Argentine’s move to Miami. Miami’s latest hero, Jimmy Butler, has had a couple of words to share as Messi is set to catch his Miami flight. “I’m so excited for the city of Miami, to be able to have a player of that caliber here,”?Butler said during a post-game interview.

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When it comes to pursuit of fortune, soccer stars are always a competition to the likes of NBA icons like LeBron James and Stephen Curry. Now, Messi will arguably see a surge in his fortune like no other athlete. Therefore, Kevin Garnett’s reaction to Messi’s mega contract does not come as a surprise at all.

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