Gary Neville has now dropped his verdict on former Manchester United teammate Sir David Beckham’s key decision to bring Argentina skipper Lionel Messi to Inter Miami.
Lionel Messi, who is currently captaining Argentina’s World Cup title defence this summer, left Paris Saint-Germain in 2023 after his contract expired with the club.
Sir David Beckham did everything in his power to bring the 39-year-old Argentine forward to the United States and Inter Miami signed Messi on a free transfer.
Messi, who is widely regarded as one of the best players of all time, has become a focal part of Inter Miami’s identity amid a major boost in the club’s worldwide profile.
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Gary Neville’s reaction to what Man Utd legend Sir David Beckham has said about Inter Miami superstar Lionel Messi
Gary Neville was on ITV punditry on Friday for Argentina’s hard-fought 3-2 win over Cape Verde in the round of 32 at this summer’s World Cup.
Inter Miami skipper Lionel Messi, who led Argentina to the FIFA trophy in Qatar in 2022, is now believed to be competing at his final World Cup competition.
Neville admitted that Manchester United legend Sir David Beckham has not told him anything directly about Messi as a person since his 2023 move to Inter Miami.
However, the 51-year-old former Man Utd captain said that Beckham’s public words about Messi spoke volumes amid the Barcelona and Argentina icon’s influence.
“And, obviously, he’s won the MLS Cup for them, so he’s been the difference-maker,” Neville said in an ITV clip on X.
“I mean, it’s been something that’s been transformational for them. And as a person, obviously, he’s [Beckham] never spoke[n] to me much about that, but what he’s talked about is the fact that the impact that he’s had on the football club is massive, absolutely huge.”
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Gary Neville on Inter Miami co-owner and president Sir David Beckham doing everything in his power to sign Lionel Messi
Messi, who lifted the MLS Cup with Inter Miami, is currently under contract with Beckham’s club until 2028 after he signed a new deal in 2025.
Sky Sports pundit Neville has insisted that it was clear why former Man Utd No 7 Beckham was so committed to bringing Messi to the States in the first place.
“No, well, look, the whole of Miami is built around him as well,” he explained.
“If you think about the fact that when David went to Miami, his target was always to bring Lionel Messi to Miami.
“And when you see that pink shirt now, around the world and you see it everywhere, you think of, obviously, Lionel Messi, you think of Inter Miami.”
Messi and Co will resume Argentina’s World Cup title defence on Tuesday in the round of 16 against Egypt at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.
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