Pep Guardiola, the Manchester City boss and former coach of Lionel Messi during their time at Barcelona, expressed confidence in Messi’s success at Inter Miami in the MLS.
Following Messi’s departure from PSG and the decision not to extend his contract, he had various offers, including one from Saudi Arabia and the opportunity to return to Barcelona.
However, Messi ultimately chose to join Inter Miami, a new MLS franchise associated with David Beckham.
Guardiola, while acknowledging his limited knowledge of the situation, expressed belief in Messi’s ability to thrive in the United States.
He also acknowledged the financial benefits of such a move, stating that the money offered in America is substantial. Guardiola refrained from delving into further details or speculation surrounding Messi’s decision.
Messi’s move to Inter Miami marks the end of his European career, which saw him achieve tremendous success, including winning the Ballon d’Or four times consecutively.
Guardiola consistently praises Messi’s talent and contributions whenever asked about their time together at Barcelona.
It is reported that Messi will earn a significant salary of over £40 million during his time at Inter Miami, although it is considerably less than the potential earnings he could have had if he chose to join Cristiano Ronaldo in the Middle East.
Messi and his family have a close affinity for Miami, regularly visiting the city and owning property there. His desire to eventually play in the MLS before retiring aligns with his decision to join Inter Miami.
Although Messi’s outstanding performances in the World Cup could potentially earn him an eighth Ballon d’Or, he emphasized that individual accolades are no longer important to him.
Having achieved his ultimate goal of winning the World Cup with Argentina, he stated that individual awards hold little significance to him.