Dolphins star Tyreek Hill welcomes Lionel Messi to Miami

The City of Miami is thrilled to welcome Lionel Messi to South Florida, and so is Dolphins star Tyreek Hill, who recorded a special message for the Argentine superstar on Wednesday.

Messi confirmed in an interview with Mundo Deportivo that he would be joining Inter Miami, ending speculation that he would reunite two years after leaving Barcelona.

And Hill is looking forward to seeing the World Cup winner fit for his local team.

“Want to welcome the 305, Lionel Messi,” Hill said in a video posted to Dolphins’ Twitter account.

“Now we have two No. 10s, but I just want to know which one is the fastest. But anyway, congratulations man.’

And Dolphins wide receiver — and fellow No. 10 — Tyrek Hill welcomed him Wednesday

Hill’s quarterback Tua Tagovailoa also called the imminent arrival of the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner “great.”

While Messi has yet to officially sign with Inter Miami, Barcelona acknowledged in a bitter statement that he had rejected his former club from joining MLS.

And the American league made a cautiously optimistic statement about the situation.

“We are pleased that Lionel Messi has declared his intention to join Inter Miami CF and Major League Soccer this summer,” the association said.

“While there is still work to be done to finalize a formal agreement, we look forward to welcoming one of the greatest footballers of all time to our league.

MLS has reportedly ‘thrown everything on the table’ to bring in Messi.

The deal would involve contributions from two of MLS’ largest commercial partners: Apple TV and Adidas The athletic.

MLS and Apple have reportedly discussed offering Messi a share of the revenue generated by new subscribers attracted to the platform’s streaming package, MLS Season Pass, through the star’s arrival in the United States.

MLS is reportedly getting creative to bring Messi to Inter Miami this summer

Inter Miami is owned by David Beckham, who also successfully moved to the MLS, joining LA Galaxy in the summer of 2007

Meanwhile, the report added that Adidas is offering Messi a profit-sharing deal with the sportswear giant, under which the player will receive a discount on any increase in Adidas’ profits as a result of its involvement in MLS.

ESPN too reported that his deal with the American side includes an option that would allow him to become part owner of the team.

Messi’s impending arrival in Miami has caused the club’s Instagram following to skyrocket – from 1 million to 3.4 – while MLS ticket prices also skyrocket.

Apart from turning down an offer from Saudi Arabia, his father, Jorge, reportedly met with Barcelona president Joan Laporte earlier this week.

‘I really wanted [to return to Barcelona]I was very excited to be able to return, but after experiencing what I went through and the exit I had, I didn’t want to be in the same situation again: wait and see what happened and leave my future in the hands of another,” said Messi Mundo Deportivo.

“I wanted to make my own decision, thinking about myself, about my family. Although I heard it was said that LaLiga had accepted everything and that everything was fine for him to return, there were many other things that needed to be done.

‘I heard them [Barcelona] had to sell players or cut player salaries and the truth is I didn’t want to go through that nor be in charge of getting anything to do with it’.

Barcelona has issued a statement on Lionel Messi’s decision to move to Inter Miami CF

Barcelona acknowledged there would be no reunion with the star, although they labeled his move to Miami as their own ‘next professional phase’ in a salty statement.

The club’s statement read: ‘On Monday, June 5, Jorge Messi, the player’s father and representative, informed club president Joan Laporta of the player’s decision to join Inter Miami despite having a proposal from Barça given the wish of both FC Barcelona and Lionel Messi to wear the blaugrana again.

President Laporta understood and respected Messi’s decision to compete in a league with fewer demands, away from the spotlight and the pressures he has been subjected to in recent years.

“Both Joan Laporta and Jorge Messi also agreed to work together to promote a fitting tribute from Barca fans in honor of a footballer who is, has been and always will be at Barca.”