Lionel Messi left Inter Miami teammates in awe in training after joining
Inter Miami forward Robert Taylor has revealed how Lionel Messi has left teammates stunned during training.
Messi is still in the early weeks of being a Miami player after joining the Major League Soccer club as a free agent. The 35-year-old had spent the previous two seasons with Paris Saint-Germain before his contract with the French club expired on June 30.
The MLS club put in a great deal of effort and preparation in signing Messi. Miami installed bleachers in all four corners of the DRV PNK Stadium and added room for 3,000 extra fans.
Those fans got to witness Messi make his debut for Miami on Friday evening in the Leagues Cup against Cruz Azul. After being named on the bench, the Argentina legend was introduced early in the second half and scored a dramatic free-kick in stoppage time to win the game 2-1 for his new team.
Taylor scored the other goal for Miami on the night, and his career has certainly been different to Messi’s. The 28-year-old was signed by the MLS club in February 2022, and went from playing in non-league for Lincoln Moorlands Railway, to being on the same roster as Messi.
Apple TV release MLS Season Pass worldwide and announce free opening weekend
The winger, who has 29 caps for Finland to his name, has explained how it feels to be on the same team as Messi. And Taylor has revealed how he and his teammates have been left stunned during training sessions.
“It’s amazing, it’s great, of course I’m excited,” Taylor is quoted telling The Independent.
“He’s just come in and brought a lot of energy to the team. His play means he makes the right decisions all of the time in training and in the games which is why it’s so good.
Lionel Messi scored the winning goal for Inter Miami against Cruz Azul on Friday (Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)“It’s a great feeling. The way to win it as well. To witness that free-kick and the quality he brings to the team, it’s unbelievable.”
It has also been quite the turnaround for Taylor who added: “If someone told me a few years ago when sitting on the bench for Lincoln Moorlands that I’m going to play with Busquets and Messi I would have just laughed in their face.
“I was sitting on the bench, I wasn’t able to get any minutes in non-league and the coach told me I’m not strong enough or basically good enough. I was just sitting on the bench watching.
“It tested me when I was younger. I was calling my parents back home in Finland and saying maybe I want to look for something, other options.”
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
