Inter Miami: Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets reunited

Inter Miami have announced the signing of former Barcelona captain Sergio Busquets on a two-year deal.

After a month of anxious anticipation, Inter Miami CF on Sunday introduced new signing Messi to a sold-out crowd at DRV PNK Stadium. The Argentina soccer star had inked a multiyear contract with the club on Saturday, becoming the highest-profile signing to hit MLS since David Beckham joined LA Galaxy in 2007.

World Cup winner Busquets will occupy a Designated Player slot and is expected to join the team in the coming days.

Inter Miami managing owner Jorge Mas said: "I am excited to welcome Sergio Busquets to Inter Miami. Since day one we have set out to bring the world's best players to Inter Miami. Sergio's repertoire speaks for itself."

A two-hour weather delay stalled the event, with heavy rain pelting the stadium grounds and lightning illuminating the sky.

But no one was going to miss this. And the fans were treated to a double feature, as Messi's former Barcelona teammate Sergio Busquets also was introduced as an Inter Miami player after signing his deal to join the club on Sunday.

Messi’s contract ties him to the club until the end of the 2025 season, and will pay him between $50m and $60m a year. The deal also includes a signing bonus and a stake in the team. He is expected to make his debut for his new team on Friday against Mexico’s Cruz Azul in the Leagues Cup.

Although the 36-year-old is past his prime, he is one of the greatest football players of all time. After a wildly successful career at Barcelona, where he won a haul of Champions League and domestic titles, he joined Paris St-Germain where he struggled compared to his best years in La Liga. However, he cemented his legacy last year, when he led Argentina to victory at the World Cup. Messi has scored 715 goals in 885 club games and won the Ballon d’Or, the most prestigious individual prize in football, a record seven times.

Busquets will first be available for selection for Inter Miami CF when they take on LIGA MX side, Cruz Azul in the July 21 opening match of Leagues Cup, a new North American soccer tournament in which MLS and LIGA MX will pause their respective league seasons from July 21 to August 19 to determine the three clubs that will qualify for the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup. All 47 first division clubs in Canada, Mexico and the US will compete in the World Cup-style, official Concacaf tournament. A limited number of tickets are still available for the match on July 21 and can be purchased here. Four days later, the Club will take on Atlanta United in their second match of the Leagues Cup competition.

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Sarah H

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