4 days ago
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.
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