Mauricio Pochettino makes Lionel Messi admission after Inter Miami transfer

Mauricio Pochettino has delivered his verdict on Lionel Messi’s huge decision to join MLS side Inter Miami.

The 36-year-old completed his switch to America after leaving Paris Saint-Germain at the end of his contract.

Messi, who won the World Cup with Argentina in December 2022, will occupy a Designated Player slot, with his contract running through the 2025 MLS season.

“I’m very excited to start this next step in my career with Inter Miami and in the United States,” Messi said.

“This is a fantastic opportunity and together we will continue to build this beautiful project.

“The idea is to work together to achieve the objectives we set, and I’m very eager to start helping here in my new home.”

Pochettino, a fellow Argentinian, has hailed Messi’s move to the MLS and believes the ‘impact is massive’ for both the league and Inter Miami.

Whilst out in the USA on Chelsea‘s pre-season tour, he told reporters: “I think it is massive for the MLS. I think Leo Messi is the best player in the world, because of that the impact is massive.

“You can see in the last days with the presentation in Miami and the impact in the world. It is amazing to see him happy and the people in Miami and the MLS are going to enjoy him.”

Inter Miami’s Chief Business Officer, Xavier Asensi, believes it is a ‘historic’ and ‘unprecedented’ transfer.

Asensi admitted: “This is a historic moment for Inter Miami, MLS, and fútbol in the United States, both on the sporting side and in this new era of business opportunities.

“Lionel is the best player of all time which has, naturally, led us to design an unprecedented agreement in the sporting world. We’re tremendously proud to have been able to present Leo with an extraordinary project that we’re sure will be beneficial for all of the parties involved.”