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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Sport
Ryan Baldi

‘I’m happy. I have friends who are not’: What Inter Miami lost with Messi

Miami organized a friendly against New York City FC to celebrate Lionel Messi’s eighth Ballon d’Or award.
Miami organized a friendly against New York City FC to celebrate Lionel Messi’s eighth Ballon d’Or award. Photograph: Cristóbal Herrera/EPA

“When the news happened, I had to turn my phone off,” says Mike Longin, a member of the Green Lot Gang Inter Miami supporters’ group, of the moment Lionel Messi’s signing was confirmed.

“My friends, my family, even my pool guy, were all calling – ‘Hey, Messi’s coming. We’re so excited for you.’ It was an exciting day. But there was also from day one, ‘OK, what does this mean?’ We knew it wasn’t going to be the same.”

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