David Beckham details Lionel Messi phone call that left Inter Miami chief in tears

David Beckham has revealed how he was left in tears on the phone after Lionel Messi confirmed he would be joining Inter Miami.

Beckham, 48, was given the option to buy an MLS expansion franchise after moving to LA Galaxy during his playing career. The former Manchester United and England superstar activated that option in 2014: where Inter Miami was born.

The club only played their first match three years ago but they can already lay claim to having one of the best players to ever play the game on their books in the form of Messi. Clinching the signature of the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner’s signature is a major coup for Beckham, who was left overawed by the capture.

Speaking to The Athletic, Beckham said of the transfer: “I never thought I would have the same feeling as an owner as I had when I was a player. When I got the phone call, I had the feeling I had when I walked out at Old Trafford or Wembley. I was like, ‘We’ve just beaten all competition to sign the greatest player to ever play our game’.

Beckham was in Japan with his wife, Victoria, when Messi went public with the confirmation that he would be heading to the MLS; a moment which still gives him “goosebumps”.

And Beckham let his emotions get the better of him during a call with co-owner Jorge Mas once the reality of the situation kicked in. He added: “I phoned Jorge straight away and got emotional because I know what we’ve gone through over the last few years.

“Trying to build this club, the obstacles, the challenges – trying to get land (to build a stadium), going to legal battles – for all of the problems we’ve had, this one moment changed everything. It changed our whole club. Once Victoria woke up properly, she hugged me, and that’s when I got emotional again.