Author: Soorya G
On Thursday, Argentine legend Lionel Messi gave his first press conference as an Inter Miami player, two days before the League Cup final against Nashville SC. With nine goals scored in just six games, the World Cup winner has led the team to an unprecedented championship clash.
The interaction with the media covered a range of subjects, including Messi’s deliberate choice of Inter Miami and his journey through the tumultuous phase at Paris Saint-Germain. Speaking about his transition to PSG, Messi revealed that his move to Paris Saint-Germain was not something he wanted and that he never intended to leave FC Barcelona.
Nashville and Inter Miami are ready to compete for the League Cup title. This inaugural tournament brings together teams from the three North American countries, marking a historic moment for the Florida-based club.
Messi shared that he had an extremely warm welcome in the Miami community and was greeted by the number of Latin American residents in the area.
Messi went on to express his reasons for joining Inter Miami, stating that his decision to choose David Beckham’s club was more of a family decision than a footballing one. Messi revealed that he was satisfied with what he had achieved so far in his illustrious career and that it was time to give priority to his family. However, he added that he was satisfied with the Inter Miami project and that he hoped to succeed in the USA too.
:strip_icc()/s.glbimg.com/es/ge/f/original/2019/12/02/36ee8ff7a2b39f0c0802cda12fed39809742c7d2.jpg)
Messi’s ambitions resonated: “Securing a win would have tremendous significance for me – along with our fans and the club, which has invested significantly in growth, cultivating a formidable team. Winning titles has far-reaching effects. The resounding applause from the stadium has been a constant. The team is young, which makes the prospect of winning our first title even more exciting.”
“Starting from scratch, with new management and acquisitions, we adjusted smoothly, all thanks to our existing teammates. This period was to instigate change… the essence of the competition was fundamental.” added Messi.
Elaborating on his view of the Ballon d’Or, Messi revealed that although the recognition he received from winning the award was a great feeling, he put the team’s achievements on a higher pedestal. Therefore, he added, he didn’t care about the desire for the prize.