What is the team Leo Messi joins? Explained in 5 brief points

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What is the team Leo Messi joins? Explained in 5 brief points

Leo Messi is about to join Inter Miami after snubbing offers from FC Barcelona and Saudi Arabia.

But do you know much about this club other than it's partly owned by David Beckham? Let us briefly explain all we know about this club to you.

1. Inter Miami are rock bottom in their conference in MLS. You've read it right, Messi is literally joining one of the worst teams in the league, an equivalent of joining Elche or Ajaccio.

MLS uses a playoff system. There are two divisions -- Western and Eastern -- and the top seven teams from both divisions form a playoff bracket. An additional spot is contested by the eighth and ninth teams. The MLS playoff is akin to that of the Champions League, where the winner is crowned the champion.

So, it's not over yet for Messi's new team but they have to finish at least ninth to make playoffs. Last season, Inter Miami fared much better finishing sixth but got knocked out in the first round.

2. Inter Miami have one of the cheapest squads in the league. For all the glamour about the team, theirs is one of the least expensive squads in the league. Only five teams have less expensive squads.

According to Transfermarkt, Inter's squad value is €34.4m. In comparison, Atalanta United FC have the most expensive squad in the league at €60.1m.

Messi's arrival, however, will be a massive boost. His estimated value is €45m -- he alone is worth more than entire squads of 21 teams in the league.

3. Messi will be Inter Miami's designated player. MLS is unlike other leagues. Across the pond, they have a salary cap that a team cannot spend over.

However, each team can sign up to three designated players who won't be included in the team's salary cap. Ironically, this started with Messi's new boss David Beckham when he joined LA Galaxy in 2007.

This rule helps teams from MLS attract players like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Didier Drogba, Thierry Henry and now Leo Messi.

American footballers can also be designated players. The most notable example is Landon Donovan, arguably the best American footballer of all time, who had wages exceeding the cap.

4. Messi won't be the first star to play for Inter Miami. The Argentinian may be the first and only GOAT to play for Inter Miami, but a few famous players have already donned their shirt.

A World Cup champion with France Blaise Matuidi and Messi's former Argentina teammate Gonzalo Higuain have been there before. In fact, Higuain retired at the club after scoring 29 goals in 70 apps.

Neither is now at the club, though, and there's probably no instantly recognisable name on the team sheet for an average football fan.

5. They've just sacked a former 381-capped Man United player. Phil Neville (not to be confused with his brother Gary) was relieved of his duties at Inter Miami a few days ago.

Need we explain why after showing you the league table?

Football fans reacted so differently to the very fact that Phil Neville almost got to manage Leo Messi.

One fan wrote on Twitter: "Phil Neville must be soooo mad right now."

Another added: "Never been more gutted about someone's sacking than society missing out on the Lionel Messi managed by Phil Neville era."

"Phil Neville ALMOST managed Messi," wrote another.

Author.eugeneSourceTribuna
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