Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas has detailed how they convinced Lionel Messi to join.

The Argentine great chose to join Inter Miami ahead of offers from Al-Hilal and a return to Barcelona.

Mas told El Pais, "In 2019 we started thinking about how we could bring him in. Messi can turn MLS into the second or third best league in the world. I think he comes with the desire to make a mark, and he can do that beyond football. When he retires he will have a stake in the club."

Mas said Messi's contract will be worth "$50 or 60 million a year".

"I was there for three years. A year and a half, very intensely. Many conversations with Jorge (Leo's father). I saw it was done at the end of May.

"(David) Beckham was talking to Leo, only about football, because he was playing. I didn't want him to feel under pressure. We spoke in Barcelona, Miami, Rosario, Doha.... I spent the whole World Cup in Qatar, watching Argentina.

"The Apple contract was very important to close the deal."