Dolphins star Tyreek Hill welcomes Lionel Messi to Miami

The city of Miami is delighted to welcome Lionel Messi to South Florida and that includes Dolphins star Tyreek Hill, who recorded a special message for the Argentine superstar on Wednesday.

Messi confirmed he would join Inter Miami in an interview with Mundo Deportivo, ending speculation he would rejoin Barcelona two years after leaving the Spanish club.

And Hill looks forward to seeing the world champion for his local team.

“I just want to welcome Lionel Messi to the 305,” Hill said in a video posted to the Dolphins’ Twitter account.

“Now we have two No. 10s but I just want to know which one is the fastest. But anyway, congratulations man.”

Seven-time Ballon d’Or and world champion Lionel Messi confirmed his plan to move to MLS

And Dolphins wide receiver – and No. 10 – Tyreek Hill welcomed him on Wednesday

Hill’s quarterback Tua Tagovailoa also called the upcoming arrival of the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner “great”.

While Messi has yet to officially sign with Inter Miami, Barcelona admitted in a bitter statement that he had stalled his former club from moving to the MLS.

And the American League issued a cautiously optimistic statement on the situation.

“We are delighted that Lionel Messi has stated that he intends to join Inter Miami CF and Major League Soccer this summer,” the league said.

“While we are still working to finalize a formal agreement, we look forward to welcoming one of football’s all-time greats to our league.”

MLS have reportedly “thrown everything on the table” to sign Messi.

The deal is said to include contributions from two of MLS’s biggest commercial partners: Apple TV and Adidas the athlete.

MLS and Apple have reportedly talked about offering Messi a share of the revenue generated by new subscribers gained by the star’s arrival in the US for the platform’s streaming package, the MLS Season Pass.

MLS are reportedly getting creative to bring Messi to Inter Miami this summer

Inter Miami is owned by David Beckham, who also made the move to MLS in blockbuster fashion, joining the LA Galaxy in the summer of 2007

Meanwhile, the report added that Adidas has offered Messi a profit-sharing agreement with the sportswear giant, under which the player will receive a share of any profit increases from Adidas stemming from his involvement in MLS.

ESPN too reported that his contract with the American team includes an option that could result in him becoming a part owner of the team.

Messi’s upcoming arrival in Miami caused the club’s Instagram following to skyrocket – from 1 million to 3.4 – with MLS ticket prices also soaring.

Aside from turning down an offer from Saudi Arabia, his father Jorge is said to have met with Barcelona president Joan Laporte earlier in the week.

‘I really wanted to [to return to Barcelona]I was very excited to be able to return, but after experiencing what I had experienced and the exit I had, I didn’t want to be in the same situation again: waiting for what would happen and leaving my future in my hands by someone else,” said Messi Mundo Deportivo.

“I wanted to make my own decision and think about myself and my family. Although I heard that LaLiga accepted everything and that everything was fine for his return, there were still many other things that needed to be done.

“I have heard that [Barcelona] “I had to sell players or take player salaries down and the truth is I didn’t want to go through that and I didn’t want to take responsibility for getting anything related to that.”

Barcelona have issued a statement on Lionel Messi’s decision to join Inter Miami CF

Barcelona admitted there would be no reunion with the star, although they credited his move to Miami as his “next professional phase” in a salty statement.

The club statement read: “On Monday 5 June, Jorge Messi, the player’s father and representative, informed club president Joan Laporta of the player’s decision to join Inter Miami, despite a proposal from Barça taking into account the request had been submitted.” Both FC Barcelona and Lionel Messi urged him to wear Blaugrana again.

“President Laporta understood and respected Messi’s decision to compete in a less demanding league, further removed from the limelight and pressures he has faced in recent years.”

“Both Joan Laporta and Jorge Messi also agreed to work together to promote a worthy tribute from Barça fans to honor a footballer who was, is and will always be loved by Barça.”