Lionel Messi’s wife Antonela Roccuzzo left humbled by ‘love’ from Inter Miami for her family as she shares video of their sons wearing jerseys chanting the team name
Lionel Messi’s wife Antonela Roccuzzo left humbled by Inter Miami’s ‘love’ for her family as she shares video of their sons wearing jerseys and chanting the team name
Lionel Messi’s wife Antonela Roccuzzo has thanked Inter Miami for their wonderful welcome to the team’s glitzy ceremony on Sunday night.
She took to Instagram on Monday night and shared a selfie of herself, Messi and their three sons, with the caption, “New beginnings.
‘How beautiful the love with which they received you, Leo Messi! Always by your side!’
She then tagged Inter Miami in the post with three flexible bicep emojis and also shared a heartwarming video of their three sons, Mateo, Ciro and Thiago, in Miami jerseys chanting the team name.
Roccuzzo was personally greeted by Miami co-owner David Beckham at the ceremony on Sunday, and he gave a speech during the unveiling referring to Messi’s family.
Lionel Messi’s wife Antonela Roccuzzo has thanked Inter Miami for their incredible welcome
Antonela also shared a video of their three sons in Miami jerseys as they chanted the team name
Miami’s DRV PNK Stadium was packed with 20,000 fans ready to welcome Messi to their squad and a torrential downpour that delayed the unveiling failed to dampen the excitement.
Messi, 36, eventually took the field and spoke to fans for the first time as a Miami player – with Antonella and their sons watching from the stands.
The Messi family owns a house in Miami and their fondness for the area is believed to have contributed to their choice to move to the US – even though a more lucrative offer came from Saudi Arabia.
Adidas and Apple TV contribute to the $60 million Messi is expected to earn playing in Major League Soccer.
Adidas pays him a share of the Inter shirts they sell with his name on them, while Apple does the same with the MLS subscriptions following Messi’s move to the US.
Messi will practice with his new teammates from Miami on Tuesday and is expected to play his first game for his new team against Mexico’s Cruz Azul in the Leagues Cup on Friday.
Messi told his new fans on Sunday evening: “Thank you very much. First of all I want to thank all the people of Miami for this welcome, this affection. I want to thank you for the kindness and love you have given me. This happened so fast.
“I’m very happy to be here, to be with you. I would like to thank Jose (Mas, co-owner of Miami), David (Beckham) for the welcome.
‘They make it easy for us, everything has been spectacular since we arrived. I really want to train and race. I want to win so that the club can continue to grow.
“I hope you join us as you have since the start of the season. I thank my new colleagues for the welcome.
‘I am very happy that I chose this city with my family, for this project. I have no doubt we’re going to have a good time. Thank you all very much for this day.’
The Miami team itself is in dire need of Messi’s star quality. It has not won in 11 MLS games and is last in the Eastern Conference – 12 points off the playoff positions.
One of Messi’s Barcelona teammates, Sergio Busquets, has followed Messi to Miami and was also revealed on Sunday evening.
Another, in defender Jordi Alba, is expected to follow shortly.