The soccer world will not be able to describe the legacy of Lionel Messi once he retires. From winning the best awards to rejecting a billion-dollar offer, Messi did it all. The superstar chose to go to Miami, with a view of focusing on family life. Amidst a flurry of opinions on his move and whether he lived up to it, Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, has added his take to the mixing bowl.
Many greats have had stints in the MLS, like David Beckham, Wayne Rooney, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. But Lionel Messi made the news like never before. You may argue about his current situation, but the move in itself looks fruitful, a sentiment echoed by the Spanish coach.
Inter Miami’s move for Lionel Messi iconic says Arteta
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After briefly flirting with a move to Barcelona, Messi’s return to the Catalan club was not successful, giving Miami the opportunity to receive the World Champion. The decision will be a historic one as per Arsenal boss, Mikel Arteta.
He said, “The decision they made to take this league much further by bringing in a top talent and the best player ever on this planet, it’s going to put this league in the spotlight. We are living history. The way MLS has developed in the last 20 years has been phenomenal. I think it was a clever move, and it’s something that’s not only really good for the MLS, but everybody is connected to it.”
Arsenal's Coach Mikel Arteta on Messi's move to Inter Miami:
"The decision they made to take this league much further by bringing in a top talent and the best player ever on this planet, it’s going to put this league in the spotlight."
"We are living history, the way MLS has… pic.twitter.com/7Hwi5gFQG9
— MLS Moves (@MLSMoves) October 9, 2023
The Arsenal coach, on his trip to the USA with the team before the season, said the move would change the face of the league.
Inter Miami, led by its co-owner, David Beckham made great efforts to convince Messi to join his team. Arteta also feels that the MLS has already changed a lot and will further raise the league’s quality. The last 20 years have seen the league grow, from 10 teams to 28 and from debt to billion-dollar profit.
The sport becoming popular in America can be a moment of significant change for the league’s growth and outlook, something that has been catalyzed by Messi. Meanwhile, on the pitch, although the Miami team won the Leagues Cup, the club’s major focus was to qualify for the MLS playoffs.
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Messi’s move to Miami and failure to reach playoffs
Miami was placed 15th on the table when La Pulga arrived, and qualifying for playoffs seemed daunting. With Messi’s injury, the mountain grew taller, and the chances grew slimmer until none were left. Miami’s hopes of making it to the playoffs were obliterated by Cinncinati, in a 1-0 loss for the Herons.
Nevertheless, the league has gained a lot of followers, fans, and viewers across the globe. From Apple TV subscriptions to crowds in the stadiums, Messi has changed the dynamics of soccer in the US. However, Inter Miami will play 2 more games before they see any soccer till February next year, raising the possibility of Messi going back to Barcelona on loan.
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