09 June 2023 , 15:36
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David Beckham has pulled off the coup of a lifetime in landing Lionel Messi for Inter Miami - after taking transfer adivce from Sir Alex Ferguson.
The former England captain's dream of bringing a world-famous superstar to his MLS franchise was realised with the announcement that the iconic World Cup winner be heading to South Beach this summer. Fighting off the 35-year-old's former side Barcelona as well as Saudi Pro League team Al-Hilal, it is probably fair to say that the transfer is the most stunning capture in the history of the sport in the US.
Although Inter Miami's form has been pretty dismal in recent times - they sit bottom of the Eastern Conference - one imagines that the arrival of Messi could have a galvanising effect in the coming months. As well as the commercial benefits of welcoming a star of his status to South Beach, it seems inevitable that the Herons' on-pitch fortunes will improve.
After Phil Neville was dismissed at the beginning of June, it was clear that the club would require a lift and there is no doubt that a marquee signing of this magnitude will serve as a major morale boost. In this sense, the decision to pursue a deal for Messi very much falls in line with a key lesson Beckham learned from his days as a player at Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Speaking shortly after launching the Inter Miami franchise on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the ex-Real Madrid star revealed a piece of advice he gleaned from the Scottish manager that he still lives by and one he will have considered when signing Messi.
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He explained: "One of the things I learned from Alex Ferguson, he turned around to me and said 'whoever you bring in, they have to be the right fit for the club'.
"It's not about the biggest name or personality, it's about who fits in best with the players. That's what we'll do but, like I said, as an owner if you want to bring these players in then we have a great opportunity."
Former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson (Getty Images)Clearly Messi ticks a lot of boxes in terms of his ability but it is likely that Beckham also was keen to bring in a player with pedigree, whose dedication and quality could rub off on those around him. If his effect on his teammates is anything like what it has been on the general public in the US, Inter Miami will be onto a winner.
The signing of the Argentinian legend has captured the imagination stateside, with the 'Messi Mania' already in full swing only days after the announcement of his impending arrival. Unsurprisingly, the clamour for tickets has already resulted in a sell-out for every game against Inter Miami in the fixture list.
Regarded by many observers as possibly the world's greatest ever player, it is likely that the transfer will prove to be a transformative milestone for the sport in the US. With the World Cup being held in the country in 2026, signing an icon of this could take the popularity of football to stratospheric levels.