How Jorge Messi orchestrated Leo’s historic move to Inter Miami

 Jorge Messi played various different roles throughout Lionel’s career - from coach to representative - he was the guiding force right from the very beginning when his son was starting out at with Newell’s, and through a very difficult early adaptation to life in Barcelona when his son was only 13.

Jorge was also instrumental in brokering deals with Paris Saint-Germain after his son’s painful exit from Barça and negotiating terms with Leo’s current club, Inter Miami.

Three lucrative offers land on Jorge Messi’s table

The decision to move to the United States after 22 years in Europe wasn’t quite as simple as it seemed from the outside. For starters, there was the emotional tug of Barcelona with president Joan Laporta and coach Xavi both attempting to lure Leo back for a second spell. At the same time an offer came in from Saudi Arabia - a multi-million dollar deal on a scale never seen before or since.

Lionel considered Xavi’s offer to return to Camp Nou but was not willing to accept if it meant his team mates taking a pay cut so that his wages demands could be met. Papá Messi knew that his son was open to the idea of playing in the United States and the new franchise, Inter Miami, founded in 2018, was an attractive option.

Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas made it his personal mission to bring Messi to the US - he would take care of the financial side of the operation while David Beckham would try to entice Leo by explain how it would work out on a purely soccer level from his own experience of playing in MLS. The process from start to finish would take the best part of three years.

For Mas, the biggest task was convincing the player’s father of the benefits of a move to Miami. While Inter couldn’t match Al-Hilal’s staggering offer of $1.7 billion over three years, it proposed other incentives that would make a move to MLS more attractive.

The deal breakers

Extra revenue streams were presented - a cut of Apple TV digital subscriptions from their new MLS Season Pass agreement alongside Adidas commercial royalties would boost his salary to $80 million. Also on the table was the option for Messi to become a part‑owner of the franchise after he retires.

Another factor was the proximity to Argentina. While being based in Miami, Messi would just a nine-hour flight away from visiting his family in Rosario.

The proposal combined soccer, family life, commercial projection and future participation in the growth of the franchise - for Jorge and Lionel it was a no brainer.

Messi signed a two-and-a-half-year contract at Inter Miami in the summer of 2023 and last November, he extended the deal through spring/summer of 2028.