Lionel Messi's wife's remark sums up David Beckham as he finally gets own way
David Beckham's decision to build an MLS franchise in Miami went down extremely well with Lionel Messi's wife Antonela Roccuzzo, who showered praise on the Floridian city
Lionel Messi's wife, Antonella Roccuzzo, praised David Beckham for the hospitable welcome they received when moving to Miami, as the English icon of football prepares to finally be awarded with a knighthood. The co-owner of MLS side Inter Miami set the wheels in motion for his American project back in 2014 when he confirmed that he had chosen the Miami as the base for his new franchise.
It was in 2020 when Inter Miami made their MLS debut, and just three short years later, they managed to capture the signature of the player regarded by many as football's greatest ever.
The opportunity to bring a football club to a city that had gone without one for years as well as the cultural diversity that exists in the Floridian city were two key aspects in Beckham's decision to set up shop in The Magic City.
It turned out to be a masterstroke when it came to recruiting the Argentinian alongside his three sons and wife, with the latter previously explaining the love she cultivated for the city since making the move.
"What I love the most about Miami is the climate, the people, and the landscape," Roccuzzo told Haute Living."All this makes you feel like you're living in perpetual summer."
She reserved special praise for the welcome that had been organised for their arrival – which Beckham would have had a hand in arranging – with Messi being announced at DRV PNK Stadium in front of a packed crowd.
"The biggest surprise for us was the warm welcome we received when we arrived," she explained. "We knew it would be special, but it exceeded all our expectations.
"It has actually been very easy [adapting to life in Miami], and we're all happy about it. Our main concern was that the kids might not like it or adjust well, but from day one, they adapted very well."
Messi echoed the thoughts of his wife as he spoke about the "amazing" city of Miami and how quickly they were able to become comfortable following a recruitment pitch from Beckham that went on for years.
"We were convinced we wanted to come here, and the people made it very easy, the people in the club and the people I see day to day in the streets and the amazing city, it makes living here very easy and happy," the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner said.
"The school too has helped us get comfortable and get settled in in our day-to-day lives, so it was a lot easier than I thought it would be because our experience of changing from Barcelona to Paris was very complicated and this has been completely different."
Having been awarded an OBE award in 2003, Beckham's long list of sporting ventures and charity endeavours will finally see him get his own way and seal his dream of becoming a Sir, as The Sun report he will be awarded a knighthood in the King's Birthday Honours list next week. And Beckham's care for the Messi family is just one example of how his attitude in life has finally led to him being rewarded with the knighthood.
The Manchester United legend will join the likes of former iconic United figures in Matt Busby, Alex Ferguson and Bobby Charlton to all be awarded knighthoods. He'll also be the first former footballer since Sir Kenny Dalglish in 2018 to be handed the honour.
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Tottenham decide transfer stance after missing out on two targets
Tottenham are prioritising the appointment of their new head coach but there is recognition that they must now act quickly following a slow start to their summer transfer business Tottenham's hesitance over the future of Ange Postecoglou has already seen them miss out on two midfielders and now they want to get a deal for the Aussie's successor in place to avoid missing out on further targets. Daniel Levy had spent the past two weeks deliberating whether to stick or twist in the aftermath of Spurs' Europa League triumph in Bilbao before finally pulling the trigger on Postecoglou on Friday. Thomas Frank is considered the clear frontrunner to replace the 59-year-old and while Brentford are yet to receive a formal approach for the Dane, positive talks have already taken place with Frank. Fulham's Marco Silva remains another name of interest but barring a significant U-turn, it looks as though Spurs will push ahead with a swoop for Frank, whose Brentford contract contains a significant buy-out clause. The Bees head coach is thought to have a good relationship with Spurs technical director and compatriot Johan Lange, who is expected to remain at the club and he'll also be tasked with overseeing transfer business alongside the likely returning Fabio Paratici. Spurs have already lost key ground in the market, England international Angel Gomes, a player Tottenham had been pursuing, has opted to join Marseille on a free transfer after also snubbing West Ham. Gomes' contract with Lille is set to expire at the end of the month but he now looks poised to remain in France after warming to the idea of working with Roberto De Zerbi. Meanwhile, Real Betis' American maestro Johnny Cardoso has agreed to join Atletico Madrid, providing a club-to-club deal can be struck. Last summer, Spurs negotiated a £21million first-option clause - that can only be triggered during a two-week window - on USMNT starlet Cardoso when selling Giovani Lo Celso to Betis. But it now looks as though Atletico will pounce and conclude a deal at a higher price for the highly-rated 23-year-old, who is not willing to wait around for Tottenham. Names of continued interest are the likes of Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze, who has a £68m buy-out clause (worth £60m + £8m in add-ons) that becomes active this summer, and Eagles skipper Marc Guehi while the Europa League winners were also tracking Bryan Mbeumo. Mbeumo has intimated that he wants to join Manchester United, who have had a £55m bid rejected and it remains to be seen if Tottenham-linked Frank could potentially swing the balance and convince his current player to join him in north London, if he lands the job. Ultimately, until Spurs know who their new manager is going to be - he will have a clear say on targets - it's difficult to envisage them splashing out on mega-money deals. Business will also likely be shaped by potential outgoings with Cristian Romero and captain Heung-min Son among those that could yet seek to pursue new challenges. Inevitably, they would need to be replaced with quality. Spurs remain keen on signing Mathys Tel on a permanent basis but they want to negotiate with Bayern Munich and won't be triggering their mooted £45m buy-option. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Daily Mirror
5 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Franck Ribery hits back at Cristiano Ronaldo in escalating Ballon d'Or row
Franck Ribery has previously expressed his displeasure at missing out on the Ballon d'Or in 2013 to five-time winner Cristiano Ronaldo and has once again hit out at the Portuguese forward Franck Ribery has mocked Cristiano Ronaldo 's claim about the Ballon d'Or after he revealed his three favourites. The latest iteration of the award is set to be handed out in a glitzy ceremony in Paris in September. Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembele is among the favourites after helping the French side to the Champions League for the first time. Lamine Yamal and Mohamed Salah have also been mentioned as contenders for the award. Meanwhile, five-time Ballon d'Or winner Ronaldo has offered his take on this year's frontrunners and claimed that Dembele could be the favourite after his European success. He said: 'The individual awards have lost some consensus, I can't say anything about who should win. 'In my opinion, those who stand out and win the Champions League should win. But there is no consensus. 'I don't believe much in individual awards because I know what goes on behind the scenes. Lamine [Yamal] could win, like [Ousmane] Dembele or Vitinha, other emerging players… but individual awards are irrelevant.' Ribery has since replied with a scathing comment on social media. 'So you NEED to win the Champions League to win the Ballon d'Or?,' Ribery asked on Twitter alongside three laughing emojis. It is not the first time that Ribery has expressed his annoyance at missing out on the Ballon d'Or. The Frenchman was among the front-runners for the award back in 2013 after helping Bayern Munich to the Champions League crown. But he ended up finishing third behind Messi and Ronaldo - the latter claiming the crown with 27.99% of the votes. And that is a call that still wrangles with Ribery to his day. Who should win this year's Ballon d'Or? Share your thoughts in the comments below 'It was unfair," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport earlier this year. "It was an incredible season for me, and I should have won it. They extended the time for votes, and something strange happened. I felt that it was a political choice." Ronaldo has since added a further three Ballon d'Ors to his collection, his last coming in 2017 when he was still with Real Madrid. His former teammates Luka Modric and Karim Benzema have won the award since, with Messi also scooping a further two. Manchester City midfielder Rodri is the current holder after becoming the first Premier League player since Ronaldo in 2008 to win the award. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Daily Mirror
5 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Fabio Wardley stuns fans with come from behind KO on wet and wild Ipswich return
Fabio Wardley shocked the world with a come from behind knockout to defeat Justis Huni on a rainy night at Portman Road. The British sensation was due to face Jarrell Miller, but the American was forced to pull out due to injury. In the sport of boxing, the show must go on - with Wardley eager to put on a performance in front of his beloved Ipswich faithful. While there was not much to cheer about at Portman Road this year, Wardley lit up the town of Ipswich after putting on a career defining performance. The 30-year-old has called for the winner of Daniel Dubois' rematch with Oleksandr Usyk and it is fair to say that he has put the division on notice as he edges closer to a world title shot. Huni - on paper - looked set to be the toughest test of Wardley's career. After establishing himself as a top prospect in his native Australia, tonight's contest marked his first fight on the UK shores. However, when the lights were at its brightest, the Ipswich pugilist and former recruitment worker shone in a big way. As he marched to the centre of the ring, Wardley was greeted and roared on by his home faithful. The 30-year-old looked locked in from the very first bell. In the opening exchanges, the Brit was clearly looking for the right hand early in a bid to unsettle the man from Down Under. But back came the Aussie - who landed big left to the body followed by a huge right hand. In a close opening three minutes, a sharp right hand from Wardley may have given the Ipswich native the round. Lovely left hook from the young Aussie got proceedings underway in the second. Despite all the boos, it was evident Huni was unfazed by all the negative noise. The 26-year-old's speed was on full force in the second, but on the pressure, Wardley fired back with a few sharp shots downstairs. In close quarters, Wardley's power shots over the top seemed to land. But Huni showed that brave, warrior, spirit to remain calm and continue on the front foot. The Aussie silenced the Portman Road crowd early in the third after finding a home with the right hand, but the Brit showed real adversity, boxing sharply on the ropes before his hungry rival fired back with a big combination. Towards the back end, the Ipswich native had the 26-year-old under the cosh after a few right hands landed clean. Huni came to silence the crowd, and it was his speed and sharpness that did just that in the early rounds. The heavyweight brawlers traded leather in close proximity in the fourth. Wardley had his success, but the Aussie's will to press forward caught the hometown favourite off-guard. Despite absorbing a huge right hand over the top, Huni took it clean on and fired back with his own combination. Light on his feet, it was clear Huni was enjoying himself in the squared-circle. The Aussie was evidently licking his lips after seeing his British rival breathing heavily in the centre of the ring. Deep in the fifth, Wardley detonated a sharp left hook, but was clearly struggling with the pace. Huni began to run away with it in the sixth. The speed, the jab, the footwork was on full display. The surging star snapped Wardley's head back with a stinging jab before landing two right hands on the button along with another right hand over the top. Wardley was looking out of ideas and was in desperate need of support from his home fans. A double right hand forced Wardley back in the seventh as Huni continued to stalk his prey. Once again, the right hand was on full force from the Aussie - who was eager to draw quite the attention from the big boys in boxing's heaviest division. In the co-main event Pierce O'Leary defeated Liam Dillon to claim the European super-lightweight champion. From start to finish, the Irishman was dominant and rarely looked in any real danger of being stopped. Elsewhere on the main card, 2024 Olympic bronze medalist Lewis Richardson scored an impressive victory on his professional debut, while Mike Perez beat Steven Ward thanks to a vicious stoppage in the ninth round. MORE TO FOLLOW...
