Lionel Messi at Inter Miami CF
As anyone who has ever experienced being in a new relationship can attest, the first three months are vitally important. People can often become too swept up in romance during this phase and make critical mistakes such as moving too quickly or disregarding red flags.
Messi inherited an Inter Miami club at the bottom of Eastern Conference and unlikely to make playoffs, and how has his first three months gone for him at his new team?
1. The Argentine’s arrival
Lionel Messi finally joined Major League Soccer, catapulting Inter Miami CF into international fame and setting a new standard for what an all-star squad could achieve on the pitch.
On Sunday evening, seven months after leading his country to World Cup victory in Qatar, Messi arrived in Fort Lauderdale for an elaborate welcome party and was introduced in front of fans wearing his No. 10 jersey.
Soon he was jogging alongside his teammates and taking part in drills during training sessions, until he hit a shot into the net to officially start his journey - an experience still echoing through South Florida today.
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2. The arrival of Busquets and Alba
Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba have become influential members of Inter Miami. Both players are making waves within their club.
Former Barcelona players joined as free agents this summer and brought both experience and quality to their respective positions on the pitch for Herons FC. These free agents have already contributed towards helping Herons make a late push for playoff positions while making deep runs in Leagues Cup tournaments.
Busquets was instrumental in the Herons' 2-1 Leagues Cup semifinal win against Cruz Azul on August 19, with his stunning free kick golazo that set them on course towards winning their maiden trophy. He made another impressionful performance against heated rival Orlando City with an aggressive yet effective display, scoring as well. Meanwhile Alba made an impactful mark during a 3-1 victory.
3. The arrival of Gerardo “Tata” Martino
Messi's arrival was a momentous milestone in Inter Miami's short history and garnered huge attention among fans, many comparing his arrival to that of David Beckham.
Martino will replace Phil Neville after overseeing Newell's Old Boys for one season in 2012. His success there -- taking over an already struggling squad and turning it around into one that won the Torneo Final and reached the semi-finals of CONMEBOL's Copa Libertadores competition -- further cemented his reputation.
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After receiving the required documentation, Chris Henderson will remain as Chief Soccer Officer to manage all aspects of soccer operations within the Club - from First Team through youth levels. The trio of fitness coaches Rodolfo Paladini and Jose Manuel Alfaro as well as video analyst Damian Silvero will start work immediately. The Club will still be led by Chief Soccer Officer Chris Henderson; all aspects of operations from First Team through youth levels will continue under his stewardship.
4. The Argentine’s impact on the team
Messi has stirred an unprecedented excitement among Miami fans since arriving, drawing crowds to his games and being willing to pay higher ticket prices just so they can watch him live. His iconic pink No. 10 shirt has quickly become one of the hottest sports shirts around while drawing international television audiences into Major League Soccer matches they would otherwise never watch otherwise.
Maintaining that excitement when the Argentine returns from national team commitments and starts missing more Inter Miami matches due to injury will be a difficult challenge; but, regardless, he has already left his mark on the team and set out a promising future path.
They still have more games ahead to reach the play-offs, but their momentum should carry them through to victory. This bodes well for their future within the league and showcases how important having star players from around the world can be for raising its profile and visibility.
