Lionel Messi is Inter Miami’s star player, but to most soccer fans, FC Barcelona is the club everyone associates with the Argentine attacker.
The 37-year-old attacker came through the La Liga side’s famed La Masia academy, becoming Barcelona’s all-time leading goalscorer and assist maker as well as playing a central role for arguably the greatest club side ever seen in the sport under Pep Guardiola.
If Messi wasn’t forced to leave the club in 2021 due to Barcelona’s financial problems, there’s a good reason to believe that the forward still be playing for the Camp Nou side, with the Inter Miami star still strongly associated with the Catalan giants.
Yet economist David Valero believes Inter Miami are using Messi’s reputation and stature better than Barcelona ever did.
Lionel Messi of Barcelona celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and RC Celta de Vigo at the Camp ...
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Barcelona ‘did not know how’ to use Messi’s global profile
Speaking to Sport, the esteemed Catalan economist shared how Inter Miami have used Messi’s reputation to better uses than Barcelona ever could, with the Herons’ entire brand based off the Argentine superstar.
Valero said: “Messi is one of the few footballers who justify his salary, the problem is not Messi, but those who earn €25m and they add zero value. There is only one Messi and, well exploited, he can generate many things for the club.
“At Barca, he was not well exploited, we have seen it in Miami and everything that has been done with him. Miami was a small club, quite irrelevant in MLS, owned by the Mas Canosa family, former anti-Castro supporters in exile in Miami. Beckham also has some interesting options.
“The thing is that it is a small club that has multiplied in popularity by 50 or 100 times. They have achieved worldwide visibility thanks to Messi. Barca did not know how to take advantage of his full potential. That is why he is one of the few footballers who justify his salary, most are over-sized.”
Neymar da Silva Santos Junior of FC Barcelona (L) and Lionel Andres Messi of FC Barcelona (R) during the Copa Del Rey Final between FC Barcelona an...
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MORE INTER MIAMI STORIES
Messi can raise Inter Miami’s profile further by recruiting Neymar
The upcoming January transfer window is set to be a big one for the Herons, with Inter Miami linked with the likes of Mohamed Salah as new manager Javier Mascherano also has sights on Argentina legend Angel Di Maria.
Yet one name has cut out above the rest heading into next month’s market, with Inter Miami in the chase to sign Brazil superstar Neymar, a former teammate of Messi’s and other superstars in the Herons’ squad.
Indeed, Messi using his influence to bring Neymar to Inter Miami would be seismic for the Florida franchise going into 2025, and the Supporters’ Shield holders go reach a new level of brand exposure if the Al-Hilal winger is signed this winter..
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