Lionel Messi's Factor Is The Reason Three New Inter Miami Players Join

JAKARTA - Inter Miami CF's new players, Tadeo Allende, Gonzalo Lujan, and Telasco Segovia said that the opportunity to play in the same team as Lionel Messi was an important part of their decision to join Major League Soccer this season.

"In my opinion, I will play with the best players in the world. That is a very important factor in my participation, but it is also a great club," Segovia, who arrived at the club from Casa Pia on a four-year contract, told ESPN.

Allende, who joined Inter Miami from Celta Vigo on loan until the end of the 2025 season, admitted that he never expected to play with Messi before Inter Miami made an offer.

"It really affected (my decision), it really affected because it was also to learn from him."

"Not only from him, but also from Sergio (Busquets), Jordi (Alba), and Luis (Suarez) who, as I said earlier, are very competitive players who want to win everything."

"It takes us to match them. It's not easy, but we have to achieve it."

"It will make us develop because we have to follow in their footsteps. When the proposal came to me, I never imagined that I could play and share the pitch with Messi."

"I saw everything and I saw it in the video. He's my idol like a lot of people."

"However, being on the pitch with him is a different thing, not only on the pitch, in the dressing room, seeing it closely is a different thing," Allende told ESPN.

Lujan had the same reaction when he received the first phone call from Inter Miami's new coach, Javier Mascherano, before signing a two-year contract with the club.

"It was an amazing experience (receiving the phone call). I have no doubts about that decision for a second."

"Mascherano told me he was interested in my arrival. I was interested in coming."

"It's very important (the factor playing with Messi). There are a lot of players who are very great, successful, and champion."

"This is a team that is considered a lot because Leo is there, he is very important. You can learn a lot from them, so I am very happy. They accept me very well, I am happy," said Lujan.

Messi is an integral part of Inter Miami, on and off the pitch. Since joining in the summer of 2023, the Argentine forward has contributed 22 goals and 19 assists in 28 appearances at MLS.

He also played an important role in the success of the team in winning the 2023 League Cup and Supporters' Shield 2024 victory.

The three players were the first few players Mascherano recruited after being appointed manager in November 2024.

The new coach wants depth on the cast list as Inter Miami prepares to compete in four events throughout 2025, including the regular MLS season, League Cup, Champions Cup Concacaf, and FIFA Club World Cup.

The match will begin on February 18, 2025 when Inter Miami travel to Kansas City to face Sporting Kansas City in the first round of the Concacaf Champions Cup.

They then face rapid changes as the MLS season begins on February 22, 2025 against New York City FC at Chase Stadium.