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Miami Storm Rains On Lionel Messi's Parade But "America's No.10" Thrills Soaked Inter Fans By Promising Them: "We Are Going To Have A Good Time"

Around 20,000 fans welcomed Lionel Messi to Inter Miami on Sunday. Messi was introduced by Inter owner Jorge Mas as "America's no.10". Messi spoke in Spanish.

Robert Summerscales

Miami Storm Rains On Lionel Messi's Parade But "America's No.10" Thrills Soaked Inter Fans By Promising Them: "We Are Going To Have A Good Time"
Miami Storm Rains On Lionel Messi's Parade But "America's No.10" Thrills Soaked Inter Fans By Promising Them: "We Are Going To Have A Good Time" /

Around 20,000 fans welcomed Lionel Messi to Inter Miami on Sunday night.

The official presentation ceremony had been scheduled to begin at 6.30pm but it was delayed by two hours due to a storm and heavy rain.

There was eventually live music by Colombian singer Camilo and Argentine rapper Paulo Londra.

But fans had braved the elements at DRV PNK Stadium to see one man.

That man was introduced by Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas.

Mas described his new signing as "Inter Miami's number 10, America's no.10, the best no.10 in the world, Lionel Andres Messi."

Club president and co-owner David Beckham also made an appearance during the presentation ceremony.

Beckham almost fell over on his way to the stage, after slipping on a rain-soaked platform.

Messi is set to train with the rest of the Inter Miami squad for the first time on Tuesday.

His debut is expected to come on Friday in a Leagues Cup fixture against Mexico's Cruz Azul.

Messi, speaking in Spanish at Sunday's ceremony, was greeted with huge cheers as he told fans: "Thank you very much. First of all I want to thank all the people of Miami for this welcome, this affection. I want to thank you for the kindness and love that you have given me. This has happened so fast."

He then thanked the club's owners by adding: "They are making everything easy for us, everything has been spectacular since we arrived. I really want to start training and to compete. I want to win for the club to continue growing.

"I hope that you will join us as you have since the season began. I thank my new colleagues for the welcome.

"I am very happy to have chosen this city with my family, to have chosen this project. I have no doubt that we are going to have a good time. Thank you all very much for this day."

Sergio Busquets also featured, albeit briefly, at Sunday's ceremony.

Busquets, Messi's former teammate at Barcelona, has joined Inter Miami on a free transfer following the expiration of his contract at the Camp Nou.

Messi and Busquets played together in the Barca first team for 13 years before the Argentina legend left to join Paris Saint-Germain in 2021.

After two seasons with PSG, Messi left Paris this summer.

Messi initially announced that he was moving to Inter Miami on June 7 when he revealed the news in a joint interview with SPORT and Mundo Deportivo.

"I'm going to join Inter Miami," Messi told those Spanish newspapers. "The decision is 100 per cent confirmed."

He added: "If it had been a matter of money, I'd have gone to Arabia or elsewhere. It seemed like a lot of money to me.

"The truth is that my final decision goes elsewhere and not because of money."

A photo taken in July 2023 to welcome Lionel Messi to Inter Miami
Lionel Messi is an Inter Miami player after signing a contract until 2025 :: IMAGO/ZUMA Wire/La Nacion
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Robert Summerscales
ROBERT SUMMERSCALES

Robert Summerscales launched FanNation Futbol in February 2022. Rob is a British journalist who previously spent two years on the sports desk at the Daily Mail in London, having earlier served as editor of CaughtOffside.com. He has been to the last two FIFA Men's World Cups, in Russia and Qatar, and is looking forward to completing his hat-trick in North America in 2026.

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