Inter Miami co-owner and former football superstar David Beckham has shared his thoughts on Lionel Messi’s recent move to Major League Soccer (MLS). He emphasized the need for patience as Messi adjusts to a different level of gameplay in the United States, even with the Argentine’s world-renowned talent.
Beckham recently observed Messi’s initial training session with Inter Miami following his two-and-a-half-year contract signing. Also in attendance were Messi’s former Barcelona teammate Sergio Busquets and the team’s coach Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino.
Despite their impressive resumes, Beckham emphasized that Messi and Busquets would require time to acclimate to MLS. “We may be in for some surprises or a winning streak, but we need to be patient,” he explained.
Beckham’s Experience in MLS – A Precedent for Messi
Drawing on his own experiences, Beckham, the most famous player to join MLS in 2007, warned that Messi might not be an immediate sensation. He recalled that his move to LA Galaxy raised unrealistic expectations of the team sweeping every game. Contrarily, they did not qualify for the playoffs in his first two seasons and finished near the bottom of the Western Conference in 2007 and 2008.
However, things began to turn around in 2009 as LA Galaxy reached the MLS Cup finals and subsequently secured the championship in 2011 and 2012. Reflecting on this period, Beckham said, “I began to appreciate football much more, not only because we were winning but also because I could see the changes taking place.”
While acknowledging that MLS is still considered a tier below the top European leagues where Messi built his career, Beckham also highlighted some of the unique challenges of playing in the American league. Factors such as extensive travel across time zones, artificial surfaces at some stadiums, and variances in teammate skill levels could be obstacles.
Beckham expressed confidence in eventual success in MLS but reiterated the need for patience. He stated, “It’sIt’s a different style of footbait’sit’s a slightly higher level than what some of the incoming players are used to. However, the current level of football in this country is good, if not great, so there will be times when we must be patient.”
