Messi didn’t go to Barcelona. Now Barcelona goes to Messi

In the summer, Lionel had a very difficult choice, since the options for continuing his career differed very, very much from each other. A return to Barcelona would mean the Argentine still wants to stay in big football and play in European competitions. Saudi Arabia has offered several truckloads of cash in a couple of years, but the level of that league is still extremely low. And the American “Inter” offered a middle ground between these two options.

As a result, Messi has chosen the maximum comfort he will find in Miami. A decent level of play, almost no pressure and solid money, especially considering the potential deductions from Apple and adidas, who are one of the main partners and sponsors of the MLS. What else do you need for maximum comfort? Friends are nearby.

There’s no doubt that Lionel has the happiest memories of his years at Barcelona, ​​when everything went almost to perfection: the Catalan club won many trophies, Messi didn’t drop out of the top spots in the top scorer charts, the Azzurri garnets appeared in the Champions League finals as frequently and easily as I did at the supermarket on my way home from work. Of course, over the years spent in sunny Catalonia, Messi made friends with whom he conquered world football.

The first of the old guard to join Leo was Sergio Busquets. In 2005, when the midfielder first appeared in La Masia, he was distinguished by his talent, so he quickly made it to the main team of the club. According to Pep Guardiola, Messi noticed the newcomer’s abilities already in the first training session. Now Jordi Alba has also joined this couple in Florida. However, he joined the friendly Catalan family soon after: in 2012, moving from Valencia after their great Euro 2012 success. The full-back, who was linked up front, quickly struck a chord with Messi, literally mesmerizing his opponents with his interaction with Leo on the pitch. Such blocks proved to be particularly effective at long distances: Leo gave the ball to Alba, who went forward with him while his partner found free zones in the opponent’s defense, and then returned the ball to Messi, who was dangerously close to goal at the time.

At the same time, it is worth noting the almost complete absence of selfishness in Busquets and Alba. The first never worried that among the scattering of Barça stars he was mentioned, perhaps, almost in the last place, although before that he was rightfully considered the best defensive midfielder in Europe. And Alba calmly accepted the task of joining the attacks less often when the Messi-Suarez-Neymar trio was formed in front.

Interestingly, the trend doesn’t end there. There are persistent rumors that Andres Iniesta may move from Japan to friends in David Beckham’s Florida club. Luis Suarez, who currently plays for Brazil’s Gremio, also looks close to switching. By the way, the Uruguayan lights up in full force: seven goals in 12 matches of the national championship. Also, don’t forget that Inter Miami is coached by another Argentinian, Gerardo Martino. Most of the former Barcelona players crossed paths with him in the 2013/2014 season, when he was in charge of the Blaugrana.

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Messi is a sacred cow for MLS. In a good way. Therefore, he has the opportunity to invite here whoever he wants and in any quantity. In North America, a team’s financial success and popularity is nowhere near as tied to results as it is in Europe, so no one even mentions that Inter Miami is in last place not just in the Eastern Conference, but in the entire league. By the way, among the local players, the Argentine also already has friends – they say that in training he communicates a lot and cheerfully with striker Joseph Martinez, who became the top scorer of MLS in 2018.

Now Lionel can enjoy the rest of his career: old friends from Barcelona are nearby, everyone is adored in a new place, the level of football is decent, but does not require any special efforts, sunny weather and a big city that can offer holidays for all tastes for himself and his family.