Lionel Messi is settling into life in Miami well on the pitch and it looks as though he is following suit off it as he was spotted viewing a property in the city.
The 36-year-old swapped Paris for the Sunshine State this summer after he decided to depart Europe for the first time in his club career. His move to Inter Miami came as a surprise to many supporters, given interest from former club Barcelona and the lucrative offer of a switch to the Saudi Pro League alongside Cristiano Ronaldo.
However, the chance to move to the glamorous city where he already owned properties proved too hard to resist. After a final gruelling season in France, he flew into Fort Lauderdale with his family to sign for his new employers in MLS earlier this month.
The legendary playmaker is already investing in a new home in Vice City only weeks after he put pen to paper on his two-and-a-half-year deal in the US. Pictured alongside wife Antonella Roccuzzo and their three children, the family viewed the sprawling mansion just off Intracoastal Waterway.
The Boca Raton district has long played host to some of sports and entertainment’s most recognisable names and boasts an enviable setting by the sea. Dubbed the ‘Venice of America’, the neighbourhood already boasts several big-name residents.
Numerous celebrities and NBA stars with the Miami Heat have owned properties in the luxurious neighbourhood. Messi could now follow suit – despite already owning a number of properties in various parts of the city.
The former Barcelona was seen entering a gated property in the area after emerging from a car alongside his wife and their kids Thiago, Mateo, and Ciro. Dressed in informal wear, they were pictured heading into the lavish property which they could decide to call home.
Clearly, the whole family is embracing this change of environment after so many years in the glaring spotlight during the megastar’s time with former clubs Barcelona and PSG. Their excitement was best demonstrated by the fact that one of the couple’s children was spotted wearing an Inter Miami shirt bearing his famous father’s name.
Messi has previously spoken of his desire for his young family to experience a more laid-back existence following many years of pressure in the public eye as a result of the intrigue surrounding his glittering career. Upon announcing his intentions to move to the US, he explained the reasons behind the switch in an interview with newspapers Diario Sport and Mundo Deportivo.
He said: “I’ve taken the decision that I am going to Miami [I decided] to leave Europe. It’s true that I had offers from another European team but I didn’t even think about it because in Europe. My idea was only to go to Barcelona.
“After winning the World Cup and not being able to go to Barca, it’s time to go to MLS to live football in a different way and enjoy my day-to-day life more. Obviously with the same responsibility and desire to win, and to do things well, but with more calm.”
The Messi family have owned an apartment in Miami for the past four years, with the Argentinian couple having already purchased a plush pad in the Porsche Design Tower in 2019. The 60-floor skyscraper is located about 25 minutes away from Inter Miami’s training base and is situated between Bal Harbour and Aventura.
The stunning $9 million (£7 million) condo boasts an incredible plethora of mod cons including views of the adjacent Miami Beach, as well as a lift for vehicles and a private cinema. On top of this, the complex also has a golf simulator, a private restaurant and an outdoor lounge with a sea view at the disposal of residents.
Having paid £7m for his apartment in the Porsche Tower on the city’s seafront in 2017, Messi reportedly forked out £6million for an ever bigger property a few doors down a few years later. Messi then completed his property buying in Miami by splashing £800,000 each on two apartments at the Trump Royale hotel.
However, it appears he is now keen to add to his £15m property portfolio with it likely he wants a new family home as they settle into a permanent life in America. He will have no shortage of cash to spend after signing an incredible deal in the US.
As part of his contract with the World Cup winner, the superstar striker will earn a cool $150 million (£117.6m) over the course of his deal, with lucrative tie-ins with corporate giants also thrown in. Among the companies Messi will have favourable commercial deals with are long-term sportswear providers Adidas and tech giants Apple.
Essentially, Messi will earn a share of profits made through sales of MLS merchandise during his time in the US. In addition, he will also earn a chunk of the revenues gleaned through sales of the MLS Season Pass, which is the streaming platform set up to broadcast games in the league by Apple.
