Messi's anticipated arrival has seen Inter Miami ticket prices skyrocketGetty Images
Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas said that it “took him three years of negotiations to bring Lionel Messi” to the club, according to Adriana Garcia of ESPN.com. In an interview with the Spanish newspaper El Pais, Mas said, “In 2019 [when Messi was still at Barcelona], we started thinking about how we could bring him. I spent three years on it, a year-and-a-half [working] very intensely. There were many conversations with [Messi's father and agent] Jorge. [Inter Miami co-owner] David [Beckham] talked to Leo, only about football issues, because he was a player." Mas added the contract with Apple “was very important to close the deal." Garcia notes Messi is “expected to sign a contract with Inter Miami until December 2025, with an option year for 2026.” Mas confirmed Messi "will earn" between $50-60M per year. Mas also confirmed ”longstanding interest in surrounding Messi with players he is familiar with,” including La Liga club Barcelona's MF Sergio Busquets and D Jordi Alba. Meanwhile, Barcelona President Joan Laporta has said that Messi did not want to return to the club because he "wanted less pressure" (ESPN.com, 7/3).
A HOT TICKET: In Miami, Michelle Kaufman wrote the “highly anticipated arrival" of Messi is "expected in mid-July," as Messi was under contract with Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain until June 30. Inter Miami “plans to celebrate” Messi and Busquets' arrival with an event at DRV PNK Stadium “tentatively scheduled for July 16.” On July 21, the two players are “targeted to make their joint debut” against Mexican team Cruz Azul in the opener of the inaugural Leagues Cup tournament. As of Saturday afternoon, there were “approximately 700 tickets (of 18,000 capacity) remaining” according to Ticketmaster’s online stadium map, and the "cheapest available were $420 endzone seats." Through the first half of the season, "endzone seats were $35 to $50” and "seats in Sect. 101 at midfield could be found at full price for $250." The same seats are “going for $800 to $1,000 for the Leagues Cup game vs. Cruz Azul.” A few front-row seats are "listed at $7,778 and $10,000 on the secondary market" (MIAMI HERALD, 7/1).
