The Argentine superstar made the bold decision to leave European football and join MLS in the summer of 2023, with free agent status reached after his contract at Paris Saint-Germain expired. And Messi made an immediate impact on and off the pitch in the United States.
He added two more trophies to his record collection with Inter Miami – the Leagues Cup and the Supporters’ Shield – and MLS Cup glory is now in sight. Messi is thriving as he feels settled in Florida, with his family quickly adapting to life in a new country and culture.
People more welcoming than in Paris
Antonela explained to Haute Living why the Messi clan immediately felt at home in the Sunshine State: “ What I like most about Miami is the climate, the people and the landscape. All this makes you feel like you’re living in perpetual summer. »
“The biggest surprise for us was the warm welcome we received upon arrival. We knew it would be special, but it exceeded all our expectations. It’s actually been very easy (adjusting to life in Miami), and we’re all happy about it. Our main fear was that the children would not like life or adapt well, but from day one they adapted very well.”
Messi has previously expressed his affection for the city of Miami, saying shortly after his arrival: “ I came here to play and continue to enjoy football, it’s what I’ve loved all my life, and I chose this place for all these reasons. I can tell you that I am very happy with the decision I made and the way my family and I live our daily lives and the way we enjoy the city and this new experience and the way people have welcomed us from on the first day, the residents of Miami and Americans in general. »
“We were convinced that we wanted to come here, and the people made it easy for us, the people at the club and the people I see every day on the streets and in this incredible city, it makes living here very easy and enjoyable . The school also helped us feel comfortable and integrated into our daily lives, so it was a lot easier than I thought, because our experience moving from Barcelona to Paris was very complicated and it was completely different. »
