On Sunday, Lionel Messi, the soccer maestro, stood tall and proud, officially unveiled as the newest addition to the Inter Miami family. The next day Inter Miami’s official merchandise bearing the name ‘Messi’ hit the shelves of the MLS Store. The response was extraordinary, with people rushing to secure the soon-to-be collectors’ item.
Messi’s arrival was a seismic shift, the biggest signing in the league’s history. His iconic jersey was anticipated to shatter all previous records for sales. Similarly, AC Milan, an Italian soccer giant made a smart decision to sign Christian Pulisic from Chelsea. The 24-year-old USMNT winger has been doing well on the marketing front for Milan. They bought him for around $24.6 million, and he signed a four-year contract with the club.
Pulisic deal and its impact on AC Milan
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Pulisic had some tough times at Chelsea, but he is a key player in the USMNT. His arrival in Milan has greatly impacted their commercial and marketing efforts, especially in the US market.
In a podcast by Joe Pompliano, he mentioned that Pulisic’s arrival in Milan has already impacted their commercial and marketing efforts. It shows how his move has further expanded its presence in the US market.
Christian Pulisic is already having a big impact at AC Milan.
• +266% increase in team store sales
• American buyers represented 43% (up from 9%)
• Pulisic jerseys represent 45% of all jerseys soldToday's podcast breaks it down.
Listen: https://t.co/iMrFvuCcly pic.twitter.com/1Kf5MmyCn4
— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) July 19, 2023
Social media posts about Pulisic got 46 million impressions and 17 million video views. Milan’s store saw a huge 266% increase in sales, with 43% of orders now coming from the US, up from just 9% before. They also sold 90% of all customized Pulisic shirts in the US. AC Milan is expected to make over $420 million in revenues this year, a 40% increase compared to last year’s $299 million.
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Lionel Messi is scheduled to have his debut for Inter Miami on July 21 in a match against Cruz Azul. The co-owner of the Herons, David Beckham, has revealed the details about Messi’s debut to the media.
David Beckham talks about Messi’s debut
The club’s co-owner, David Beckham, mentioned that Messi might need some time to adapt to the team’s style of play. He urged fans to be patient as the Argentine superstar could take a while to have a significant impact. Messi’s debut and playing time will be decided by head coach Tata Martino, who aims to protect the player and ensure he is fully ready for the game.
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After a successful season with Paris Saint-Germain and winning the World Cup with Argentina, Messi will soon take the field for Inter Miami. The Herons currently struggle in the MLS Eastern Conference standings. They will hope for Messi’s contributions to turn their fortunes around.