Inter Miami owner: Messi negotiations took 3 years to complete

Lionel Messi needed three years of convincing before eventually accepting a move to Inter Miami, club owner Jorge Mas told Spanish newspaper El Pais.

Mas revealed Saturday that his team began hatching a plan for Messi in 2019 when the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner was still with Barcelona. Messi joined Paris Saint-Germain in 2021 and allowed his contract to expire after two disappointing seasons in the French capital.

"I spent three years on it, a year-and-a-half (working) very intensely," Mas said, as translated by ESPN's Adriana Garcia. "There were many conversations with (Messi's father and agent) Jorge. (Inter Miami co-owner) David (Beckham) talked to Leo, only about football issues, because he was a player."

Messi eschewed a return to Barcelona, as well as the promise of €400 million in Saudi Arabia, to play in Major League Soccer.

Mas said the 36-year-old will instead earn between $50 million and $60 million annually on a contract until December 2025. Messi will also have the option to extend it by a further year.

Apple was a key part of the deal, according to Mas. On top of producing a four-part docuseries on Argentina's World Cup-winning campaign, the tech giant reportedly agreed to give Messi a share of the profit from the league's streaming service on Apple TV+ and a stake in a future MLS franchise.

"I saw it as done at the end of May," Mas added. "I didn't want him to feel under pressure. We had spoken in Barcelona, Miami, Rosario, Doha ... I spent the whole World Cup in Qatar, watching Argentina."

Messi is expected to make his debut for Inter Miami on July 21 against Mexican side Cruz Azul at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.