Miami can lure Messi & Ronaldo
DAVID BECKHAM could ensure that Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi both end their playing careers in the USA at Inter Miami.
And former Everton and Burnley player Adrian Heath – now the manager of Minnesota United – has no doubt that ex-manchester United, Real Madrid and England star Beckham can make it happen.
Becks already has a strong relationship with Juventus star Ronaldo (below), who is 35 and eyeing final challenges.
At 32, Barcelona megastar Messi has more time on his side, but Heath believes BOTH could end up playing for Beckham’s Miami fracnchise.
“I keep hearing there will be a blockbuster signing by them at some stage – and Ronaldo and Messi are the names I hear most,” said Heath.
“That would be incredible for football in the USA, and if anyone has the global profile to make that dream a reality then it has to be Beckham.
“It may not happen just yet, but I can see Ronaldo following in the footsteps of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard playing in
Major League Soccer.
“For Ronaldo and Messi, the two obvious destinations if they came over to the MLS would be Los Angeles and Miami.
“With Beckham’s links to both players and the plans he and his backers have in place, I can really only see them going to Miami.”
Heath believes that big-name Premier League stars will also be watching Miami’s development with interest.
“The MLS has the potential to become one of the top leagues in the world,” added Heath. “In the past it’s been a place for top stars to wind down, but that will change.
“The arrival of Beckham and Miami will help accelerate that switch in mentality.”