Alexis Lalas warns MLS that Inter Miami could become a ‘Death Star super club’ with the arrival of Lionel Messi – as more stars are linked with the lowest-ranked team in the Premier League ‘East
- Lionel Messi could convince many other stars to join him in South Florida
- Other aging stars like Angel di Maria and Gerard Pique are linked to Miami
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Fox Soccer pundit Alexi Lalas believes Lionel Messi’s arrival will trigger a flurry of transfers to Inter Miami.
Talk to TMZthe former United defender believes the arrival of the reigning World Cup champion may not be the only deal the club are finishing this summer.
As far as Messi’s transfer itself is concerned, Lalas believes he has the opportunity to shape the game in the United States for years to come.
Not only will this attract many more Americans to the game, but it will also significantly raise the profile of Major League Soccer.
Lalas says other names linked to the club could see them become the MLS equivalent of a ‘super team’.
Alexi Lalas (R) thinks Lionel Messi (L)’s arrival at Inter Miami could lead to a super team
Messi’s move to Miami has already led to rumors that Angel di Maria (L) and Gerard Pique (R) could join him in South Florida in the team currently sitting last in the Eastern Conference.
But the arrival of the World Cup-winning captain will mean more eyeballs on MLS
“We’re already seeing some incredible names linked to coming to Inter Miami,” Lalas told TMZ. “It’s almost like they’re potentially creating this awesome MLS Death Star club, and watching the hate is going to be absolutely epic!”
If Angel Di Maria, Sergio Busquets and Pique jump across the pond to join Messi in Miami, Lalas believes animosity will increase within MLS teams – and could then lead to much more intense clashes .
“I know if I was on another team – a less sexy team, for example – and Miami was doing all of this, and one of the best to ever play is there, I would kick his ass,” Lalas said. .
But a lot needs to be done to improve Miami’s fortunes. The team is currently bottom in the league’s Eastern Conference despite names such as superstar striker Josef Martinez and World Cup selections such as DeAndre Yedlin and Kamal Miller.
There could be signs of improvement beyond Messi. The club recently sacked Phil Neville as manager – leaving a vacancy which could be filled by Tata Martino, an MLS Cup winner in Atlanta who has led teams such as Barcelona, Argentina and Mexico.
Regardless of what happens to Inter Miami this season, Lalas believes there are only positives to consider.
‘It’s a wonderful day for football; it’s a wonderful time for MLS — and America in general,” Lalas said, “because it’s a pretty cool thing to see.
