How David Beckham’s Inter Miami enticed Lionel Messi with celebrity Florida lifestyle and £830,000-a-week salary
DAVID BECKHAM’s Inter Miami project has been a slow burner – but you can expect lift off now. The club’s first three seasons have seen them miss out on the playoffs, with manager Phil Neville recently getting the bullet.
David Beckham is still hoping to attract a hoard of superstars to his Inter Miami sideNot even marquee signings of Blaise Matuidi and Gonzalo Higuain managed to ignite the club, with the French ace’s signing breaking MLS rules and Higuain soon retiring. However, thing could now change. The club have reportedly agreed to sign seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi. Spanish journalist Guillem Balogue has claimed the Argentina World Cup winner will leave PSG when his contract expires in June and head to the MLS. The lure of an £830,000-per-week salary was too good to turn down, and blew any offer Barcelona could tempt Messi with for a Camp Nou return out of the water. The move fulfils a promise Beckham made when he announced the club to the world. At a press conference announcing the club’s formation, the ex-England captain made noises that he was regularly speaking to the world’s best talent to lure them to his project.
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So what can Messi and any other prospective transfer targets expect from a life at Inter Miami?
THE WEATHER
While you may have to be wary of the odd tropical storm here and there, Miami weather is mostly perfect. January averages around 20 degrees Celsius, while winter highs range between 23-27 degrees Celsius. The wet season starts in May and ends mid-October, but the temperatures are between 27-35 degrees Celsius and it’s insanely humid. Unfortunately for the players, the MLS football season runs from February to November, making it hell playing in the worst of the conditions.
THE BEACHES
They say life’s a beach… Miami has several from Key Biscayne to North Beach, where prime athletes can bronze themselves on a daily basis. There’s the 21st to 45th street beach, which runs alongside the Miami Beach boardwalk and South Pointe Park. Some of the world’s best hotels and restaurants are nearby, so it’s the perfect spot. Anyone feeling active could head to Lummus Beach where volleyball courts are available to rent or there’s thatched huts to lounge under. Haulover Beach boasts white sands and a choppy sea, ideal for surfers. On Tuesday nights there’s a food truck festival with live music and local foods for the whole family.
THE RESTAURANTS
Miami’s cuisine is fit for a king and is influenced by the ocean with plenty of seafood on offer. Latin American foods are key here, so most restaurants boast many Cuban-influenced dishes – most meat-based. The most exclusive restaurants in town are Terrazza in the Shore Club Hotel, Zuma in the heart of downtown Miami and Jaya at the Setai Hotel. Jaya is a favourite of the likes of Jay Z and Bono whenever they’re in town, with menu highlights including a whole branzino for a reasonable £27. Terrazza’s Italian by-the-pool fare will attract many footballers wanting to load up on carbs. While Zuma’s light Japanese meals will have weight-conscious footballers frothing at the mouth.
THE STADIUM
Central to Beckham’s Miami franchise is a super stadium fit for the best players in the world. The 18,000 all-seater arena is in the Overtown neighbourhood, near the Miami River, and was originally met with some controversy from the locals who didn’t think a stadium should be built on the site. A world-class training centre sits next door to the stadium and boasts first-class facilities. However, be sure that it will be a state-of-the-art venue, not only fit for football, but ready to house concerts featuring the world’s leading pop stars. Interestingly, it isn’t be the biggest stadium in the country, but it’ll surely be a sellout week in, week out with Beckham involved. However, there are now plans to create a $1BILLON stadium, which will be ready for 2025 and hold 25,000 fans.
THE CELEBRITY CULTURE
After all, this lot can’t be wrong. The most famous faces in the world choose Miami as a holiday destination, pouring in on their private jets regularly during the summer. Some celebrities even call Miami home, so any footballer who wants to embrace celebrity culture should look no further. Anna Kournikova and Enrique Iglesias, Lenny Kravitz, Sean Combs, Matt Damon and Jennifer Lopez all have lavish homes in Miami. Most opt for Star Island, so expect footballers to be checking out homes in that area. With footballers making the crossover into movies and TV, major productions in the city are on the rise. Could the team feature in The Rock’s show ‘Ballers’ in a future episode?
SPORTS CULTURE
Anyone moving to Miami will have to be very aware of the sports culture that runs through the city’s veins. Although the Miami Dolphins haven’t tasted Super Bowl success since 1974, they’re steeped in NFL history thanks to legendary quarterback Dan Marino. The NBA team Miami Heat was the one-time home of LeBron James when they picked up consecutive championships in 2012 and 2013. They’re also represented in the MLB by the Marlins, who are co-owned by NY Yankee great Derek Jeter and have won two World Championships.
BAYSIDE MARKETPLACE
For shopping and dining, incoming footballers will look no further than taking a stroll along Bayside Marketplace. Wrapping along the bay walls of the bank, it boasts designer shops, posh restaurants and a great vibe that encompasses all that’s great about Miami. Incidentally, Miami Vice often filmed episodes here, so if it’s good enough for Don Johnson…
OCEAN DRIVE
No doubt any big-name Beckham signing will be driving a fresh motor. With that in mind, they’ll definitely want to cruise down Ocean Drive with its surrounding Art Deco hotels and bars. The Clevelander Hotel, with its bar and massive swimming pool provide a great spot to grab a refresher in the hot heat. You’ll be mad not to be impressed by the architecture. It’s an amazing experience for any tourist and any future Beckham signing. So, where do we sign up?
EVERGLADES
On the list of must-do things in Miami – and Becks doesn’t even need to sell the tourist haven – is the Everglades. Unlike anything in the world, it’s your best chance of seeing a crocodile swimming in its natural habitat. Over 1.5 acres long, the wetlands begin in Orlando at the Kissimmee River and end at Lake Okeechobee.
MESSI IS ALREADY SET UP
Messi, himself, is already set up in Miami – so moving should not be difficult. Back in 2021, he reportedly bought a stunning £7.2million apartment in Porsche Design Center, which boasts incredible views of the coastline. According to Madrid-based radio station Cadena Ser, he bought the property with a view to make his MLS move a reality. One of the home’s most impressive features is a lift for residents’ cars. The king, sitting on top of his penthouse, has most definitely arrived.
The 35-year-old ace, who inspired Argentina to a World Cup win over Mexico last night, is currently playing for French club Paris Saint-Germain after leaving Barcelona.