Michael Dawson thinks that Lionel Messi, like David Beckham did, will help grow MLS as a competition.
Lionel Messi’s impending move to Inter Miami will be a great tool to help MLS grow, says Michael Dawson.
Messi confirmed on Wednesday that he will join Miami after leaving Paris Saint-Germain as a free agent.
Barcelona wanted to re-sign the 35-year-old but could not secure the finances, with Messi claiming he did not want a potential return to his old club to lead to other players having to take pay cuts or be sold.
Now there is a new venture in the United States and former Tottenham defender Dawson thinks it will be a huge positive for the growth of the sport in the United States.
Speaking to Stats Perform at an exclusive member club and Nike launch event held at Alexandra Palace, Dawson said: “I always look back at MLS when David Beckham left [in 2007 to LA Galaxy] and I always believe that that was the beginning. MLS is improving and growing.
“When you look at Cristiano Ronaldo going to Saudi [Arabia] and playing there, it gives people a different interest.
“Messi [and Ronaldo], they are icons of football, the best players of my generation. So if you bring it to your country, to your league, it will only bring people to watch it.
“I say the Premier League is the best league in the world. I’ve never played in another country. I might like it if I get the chance to come.”
“But with players like that going there, it will always attract the interest of the fans because as a fan you watch Messi, you watch Ronaldo and that’s why the owners of these football clubs spend all the money to get them.” because they are trying to improve their brand, their football team and their league.”
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