Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas makes Lionel Messi claim as he heads into final year of MLS contract

Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas believes Lionel Messi is not going anywhere after his current contract expires at the end of next season.

The Heron’s biggest star and one of the best in any sport came to Major League Soccer last July and has brought unprecedented attention to America’s top division.

What the New York Jets hoped Aaron Rodgers would be for their franchise, in a late-career superstar who changes the franchise’s trajectory for the better, Messi has actually delivered.

Mas doesn’t want any of that energy to change as American soccer is in perhaps its most critical period since the 1994 World Cup was held in the United States and MLS had its inaugural season two years later.

‘Messi is under contract until 2025; Leo and I will discuss the future,” Mas said on Friday. “As I have said before, and I will repeat it now, I fully expect that at the opening of our new stadium in 2026 and the opening of our 2026 MLS season, after a trophy-laden 2025 season, Leo Messi will be our number one will be one. . 10.’

To make Messi’s stay in Miami even more festive, the team plans to hire his former Argentine and Barcelona teammate Javier Mascherano as the Herons’ next head coach.

Inter Miami expects to retain Lionel Messi after his current contract with the team expires in 2025

Team co-owner Jorge Mas sounded confident about Lionel Messi's future at Inter Miami

Team co-owner Jorge Mas sounded confident about Lionel Messi’s future at Inter Miami

Inter Miami is only the third team Messi has played for after his long spell at Barcelona and a short stint at Paris Saint-Germain.

Messi already has some of his old teammates with him in Florida: Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets.

‘We are going to use every selection mechanism given to us by the league to build the best squad we can to compete in 2025, knowing that we will compete in multiple competitions such as the CONCACAF Champions League, Club World Cup, Leagues Cup ‘, Mas said. added.

“There is pressure here to win, and that pressure will continue. We expect it from ourselves, our coaches and players. … Roster decisions are being made, a little prematurely than we expected. “We expected to play tomorrow or Sunday (in the conference semifinals).”

“We will continue with the best team we can, there are no budget restrictions. We are going to bring in the best players from around the world, and we will continue to win and build this club into a premier football team.”


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