The transfer that took center stage this summer was that of Lionel Messi. Inter Miami won the race to sign the Argentine. The MLS side was not in the picture to sign the former PSG superstar. It was only between Al Hilal and FC Barcelona. Reports emerged that the Argentine wants to return to Blaugrana.

Things moved fast. But the reunion wasn’t on the cards. His registration was subject to La Liga FFP. Messi wasn’t ready for the long transfer saga. In a surprising turn of events, David Beckham’s Inter Miami entered the negotiations and got the nod from Lionel Messi. But was it that easy for the MLS club? Did they really convince him in such a short period? The club’s $1.4 billion worth of owner has answers.

It took a few years of effort to sign Lionel Messi

Fans went on shockwaves when Lionel Messi announced his next destination. The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner opted to play in MLS for Inter Miami. But was that an easy process for Inter Miami to sign the former PSG superstar? Absolutely not. The signings don’t happen in a day or two or even weeks. When it’s Messi, it takes a long time. And that’s what Jorge Mas, a childhood Real Madrid supporter, has to say.

The Inter Miami co-owner recently spoke to?El Pais?to detail Lionel Messi’s transfer to the MLS club and his allegiance to soccer. When asked about his favorite soccer team, Mas said,?“Real Madrid. The love of soccer entered me at the Santiago Bernabeu in 1973. I have been a blanco for many years, and I carry it in my heart. I know Florentino Perez.” However, he is now?black and pink?after taking over Inter Miami.?

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He further divulged the details of signing Messi.?”I spent three years. A year and a half, very intensely,”?said Mas on when the pursuit for the Argentinian started.?“I saw it done at the end of May,”?he added. Mas also spoke of the efforts David Beckham has taken in the negotiations.?“Beckham talked with Leo only about football issues because he was playing. I didn’t want him to feel pressured,”?Mas said.

Jorge Mas also detailed what was the turning point in the decision.?“We’ve talked in Barcelona, Miami, Rosario, Doha… I spent the entire World Cup in Qatar, watching Argentina. The Apple contract was very important to close it.”?We can safely say the deal structure that Inter Miami proposed lured Messi after Barcelona’s transfer fell off. Such was the contract that the World Cup winner snubbed a billion-dollar offer from Saudi Arabia.

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Yes, Messi may have declined a chance to bag over $1 billion upfront in three years. But the Argentine has made sure he could potentially earn more with stakes in Inter Miami.