Miami and South Florida are experiencing a fever for Lionel Messi days before he will be presented in style on Sunday at the Inter Miami stadium, the DRV PNK, in whose exteriors dozens of fans have been stationed throughout the week with posters and t-shirts of the Argentine crack.
‘The Unveil’ (the revelation) is the name of the special act with which the Major League Soccer (MLS) club will present on Sunday night at its stadium, located in Fort Lauderdale (about 35 km from Miami), to the recent world champion together with Sergio Busquets, his former teammate at FC Barcelona, and also a signing for Inter Miami.
read also
South Florida media echoed this Thursday rumors according to which artists like Shakira, Maluma and Bad Bunny will participate in the eventabout which for now the club owned by the businessman of Cuban origin Jorge Mas and the former English soccer player David Beckham has not given any clue.
Monday press conference
Inter Miami has summoned journalists for an “important press conference” next Monday with the club’s owners and “a player”, who is presumed to be Messi, who is expected to step onto the pitch the next day and complete his first training session with his new team.
After arriving at the Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport on Tuesday on a private flight with his wife and three children, the “Messi era” or “Messimanía” began in Miami, as the media are beginning to call the adventure of the star Argentine in the MLS and that experts describe as a “historic milestone” for the practice of this sport in North America.
Dinner with Diego Torres
This Thursday, videos posted on social networks show the Messi family leaving a well-known Italian restaurant in Miami Beach and being approached by several supporters. The captain of the albiceleste is seen signing a Newell’s Old Boys jersey, their childhood team, and taking photos with their effusive fans.
As stated on the ESPN website, The Argentine singer Diego Torres was part of that dinner, who resides a good part of the year in this city in South Florida.
A sandwich in his honor
The dinner was held the same day that the Hard Rock International restaurant and hotel chain presented to the world ‘Made for You by Leo Messi’, a ‘Milanese-style’ chicken sandwich that is the player’s favorite and can already be tasted at all Hard Rock Café locations and as part of room service at some Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos, according to the firm itself.
Messi’s chicken sandwich consists of a chicken breast covered with melted provolone cheese and herb aioli, accompanied by tomatoes and arugula, and served on toasted artisan bread.
Giant Leo murals
In Wynwood, the artistic neighborhood of Miami, dozens of people and tourists take photos every day in front of a gigantic 20-meter mural with the face of the Argentine star, work of his compatriot Ignacio Bagnasco and who was visited over the weekend by Beckham.
The same happens with a mural dedicated to the player outside the well-known Argentine restaurant Fiorito, in Miami.
In the midst of the euphoria that has been unleashed by the arrival of what is considered one of the best footballers in history, the Inter Miami squad, under the orders of their new coach Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino, he tries to keep his focus on Saturday’s game against St. Louis City SC, a game in which Messi will not play yet.
Medical review and last details of the contract
The Argentine also did not participate in training on Wednesday, but according to the Miami Herald newspaper, he was inside the facilities finalizing the paperwork related to his contract and completing the rigorous medical examinations.
“Without a doubt, everyone is happy and waiting for the moment; there is so much emotion and a lot to look forward to with a person of that magnitude,” the Inter Miami striker told the media. Joseph Martinezinternational with the selection of Venezuela.
It is expected that the debut of Messi and Busquets with Inter Miami will be on July 21 in the match that the South Florida team will play against the Mexican Cruz Azul in the Leagues Cup.