Lionel Messi signed for Inter Miami one year ago in a moment that could down as one of the biggest in MLS history.
The Argentine international swapped Europe for the United States with the 37-year-old attacker transforming the Herons completely, with Inter Miami this year winning the Supporters’ Shield and setting a new regular-season points record 12 months after finishing as one of the worst sides in MLS.
With Andres Iniesta sharing that Messi is loving life in Florida and reports now emerging that Inter Miami could sign Neymar next year, things have never looked more exciting for the Herons, who this weekend face Atlanta United in their second play-off match.
And goalkeeper Drake Callender has shared how the Inter Miami squad reacted when news broke that Messi was signing.
Callender says ‘everything changed’ when Messi was announced
Speaking to ESPN, the USA international revealed that ‘everything changed’ for Inter Miami when news broke that Messi was joining, with Callender sharing a speech he told the rest of the squad when the announcement was made.
With Callender named as a more important player for Inter Miami than Messi since the Argentine’s arrival, the Herons’ goalkeeper has enjoyed quite the ride in the last 12 months, and the 27-year-old MLS star was seemingly up for the task almost immediately.
Callender said when asked what his initial reaction was after finding out Messi was joining: “We were in Alabama, getting ready for our Open Cup game against Birmingham [Legion], and heard the announcement that he would officially join us.
“We were in our pregame meal, and after that moment, I said: ‘Alright guys, we have to go and win because Messi can’t join a team that’s not competing. We want to be in good shape for when he joins.’ That was a big transitional moment for us, organizationally, culturally, locker room-wise. Everything changed.”
Messi has improved Inter Miami’s squad like nothing else
Callender was something of an unknown quality even within in MLS before Messi’s arrival, yet a good claim could now be made that the California-born goalkeeper is now ranked amongst the best in the league.
Now a USA international, Callender’s rise coincides with Messi’s arrival at Inter Miami, with the Argentine bringing the best out of a number of players and giving them a platform to show the world just how good they are.
With Diego Gomez now heading to Brighton & Hove Albion, more Inter Miami players could secure big moves after the development they’ve experienced with playing alongside Messi, who has been huge for the franchise at every level.