Lionel Messi landed in Fort Lauderdale in Florida on Tuesday in preparation for an unveiling ceremony to be hosted by his new MLS club, Inter Miami CF, on Sunday.
Messi arrived in the company of his wife and children as the club made the announcement confirming the welcome event. Called “The Unveil”, the ceremony is set to start at 6pm on Sunday (3.30am IST, Monday) at the team’s DRV PNK Stadium.
Inter Miami season ticket holders will receive free admission.
In an interview released on Tuesday, Messi said he would give his all for the MLS club, which has now gone a club-record 10 matches without a victory following a 2-2 draw on Sunday against DC United.
“My mentality and my head are not going to change and I am going to try, wherever I have to be, give my best for myself and my new club, continue to perform at the highest level,” Messi told the Argentina TV show, Llave a la eternidad.
Speaking of his family moving to the US, he added: “We are happy with the decision we made. Prepared and eager to face the new challenge, the new change.”
Inter Miami have not yet made the signing official, after reaching an agreement with the Argentina legend, who spent two seasons with Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain after leaving Barcelona.
Miami are targeting their July 21 Leagues Cup match against Cruz Azul for Messi to make his debut for the club.
Messi will be coached once again by his former Argentina and Barcelona manager, Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino, who took over the team in late June.
The city of Miami is preparing to usher in the era of Lionel Messi. Word had obviously gotten out that one of the greatest, most esteemed footballers of all time was about to touch down in Florida as fans began congregating outside the airport several hours before his arrival.
Supporters also flocked to the Inter Miami Stadium in an attempt to catch a glimpse of their idol. Some fans dressed in both Inter Miami and Argentina replica shirts with Messi’s name and number on the back, while others even brought along life-sized cardboard cutouts of the 36-year-old forward.
Elsewhere, large groups of excited fans gathered on the streets of Wynwood, a Miami neighbourhood famed for its vivid displays of street art. Sure enough, the group began clapping and chanting for Messi in front of a large painting of the former Barcelona star.
Also in Wynwood, club co-owner David Beckham was all smiles earlier this week as he helped apply the finishing touches to an enormous new mural of Messi that has been painted on the wall of a building by Argentine artist Maximiliano Bagnasco.
The media presence at Wednesday's training session was tenfold than what it normally is. “It’s a big change,” striker Josef Martinez said.
