18 August 2023 , 06:00
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Lionel Messi has settled in perfectly at Inter Miami after leaving Paris Saint-Germain in June, and manager Gerardo Martino says the World Cup winner couldn't be happier.
The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner spent the first 17 years of his senior career with Barcelona, in addition to the four years he spent in the youth academy. The Barcelona legend revealed that he never wanted to leave the club as he cried on stage during a tough farewell speech, but financial issues within the hierarchy forced him to look for a new team.
Messi then spent two years in Paris, winning the domestic title on two occasions before deciding to leave at the end of his contract. The happiest moment of Messi's entire career occurred during his time at PSG, but it was his World Cup success with Argentina rather than anything that took place in France.
The Argentine revealed that he was unhappy in France after leaving PSG, and continued to speak out against the Ligue 1 side in his latest press conference for Miami. But Messi is finally happy again now that he's at a club where he feels loved, stating it's the "opposite" of how he felt when joining PSG.
Martino was beaming with Messi after the 36-year-old helped book Miami's place in the Leagues Cup final, and the head coach is certain that his player is back to his happiest. Martino has a history with Messi as he managed Barcelona between 2013-14, and said to GOAL : "You see it in the field; I don't have to tell you, but he's a lot calmer, much happier. Being happy also has to do with where he's been."
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But that doesn't mean that Messi hasn't found it tough, as he's gone from being very settled in Spain, to settling down in another major European city before switching continents completely.
"My departure from Barcelona to Paris was not something I wanted, I did not want to leave and it happened from one day to the next, it also took a while for me to quickly get used to a totally different place both in the city and in sports and made difficult," Messi said in a press conference on Thursday. "But that is the complete opposite of what is happening to me here, thank God."
Messi found it tough to adapt to life in MLS and Miami at first (Alex Bierens de Haan/Getty Images)Messi revealed that he still doesn't have a permanent house in Miami, but he isn't concerned as it's far from the troubled move to Paris. "Everything was much easier than we thought. The change from Barca to Paris was complicated, this was different," Messi added "People were spectacular from day one throughout the US. I am very happy."
Messi has been loved throughout his whole career, although things took a turn while in Paris as the fans didn't warm to the player as expected. "Well, I think in the beginning it was something wonderful," Messi told beIN Sports in an interview. "Same as the reception I had when I arrived.
"But then some people started to treat me differently, a part of the Paris supporters. I think the vast majority still see me and treat me as they did at the beginning, but there was a fracture with a significant group of the Paris fans, which obviously wasn't my intention, far from it.
Messi felt the pressures of the Paris fans and was unhappy (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)"And well, it happened just as it happened before with [Kylian] Mbappe, with Neymar. I know that's the way they behave. But, well, I'll take away with me the people who respected me, as I always respected everyone since I arrived and that's all. It's an anecdote."
But away from the fans Messi revealed after leaving Paris that he wasn't his normal self, and wanted his next career move to be right for him and his family. "I had two years where I was so unhappy on a personal level that I didn't enjoy it," Messi told Mundo Deportivo.
"I had that month that was spectacular for me because of winning the World Cup, but apart from that, it was a difficult period for me. I want to rediscover joy, enjoy my family, my children, and day-to-day life."
Messi had offers from multiple clubs across a number of leagues, including Saudi Arabia, but chose to join MLS and embark on a very different adventure. It's been a match made in heaven so far, and former team-mates Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba joined him in Miami.