Former Argentine player Diego Valerithe former Lanus native and one of the biggest winners in MLS history, told EFE this Wednesday that American League may offer ‘life project’ to Lionel Messi and expressed his wish that the Paris Saint-Germain star would choose “football” as his next destination.
After becoming a two-time U.S. Champion with the Portland Timbers in 2015 and in the “post-coronavirus” MLS tournament, he returns in 2020. Valery retired from football last year and is now the commentator for the new MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
It’s part of an ambitious project after MLS signed a historic ten-year deal with Apple to show football in over 100 countries in English, Spanish and French.
He is enjoying the “second half” of his life in the United States and is promoting a league that is growing by leaps and bounds and that wants to mentor the elite of European football in ten years. He believes MLS already has a mixture of veterans and young talents like his compatriot Thiago Almada, but he is confident that Inter Miami’s eventual signing of Messi will change everything.
Ask: You signed with the Timbers in 2013. Did you expect MLS to reach this level in ten years?
Answer: Now is a good time for MLS. When I arrived in 2013, I imagined the league would take a step forward in terms of being more competitive. What I couldn’t imagine is how it’s going now, to promote young players, with so many teams, with clubs that can make big sales.
Question: Messi’s name is becoming more and more frequent when it comes to giving the final boost to MLS. Do you see the possibility of his arrival?
A: I cannot be impartial, I cannot be objective in this. I’m completely biased because I want him to be here tomorrow, it’s great if he played in some MLS club tomorrow, I think it would be in Miami. It would be great. Perhaps the most recent comparable event is (David) Beckham when he came in in 2007 and the league made him another notable.
Question: What kind of football would Messi meet?
A: This is another moment in MLS, it can offer you a life project. This is a special moment for him because of everything that has happened, because of the World Cup, because he recently left Barcelona, his home, his place. MLS can offer you a path and something more.
I hope he can be convinced. The decision will be up to him and his family. Apart from the offer you will have. Let’s see what his motivation is and what decision he will make.
IN: The players are delighted with the working environment in the MLS.
– This external pressure is not at the same level, there is not the level of demand and constant analysis that top European clubs have. MLS also has a different format, without relegation. These conditions cause different external pressures. The fans respect the players, they respect the processes.
IN: How are you experiencing this new chapter of your life on Apple TV and the MLS Season Pass?
A: Very happy with this opportunity, a great working group has formed. Everything is first class, high quality, and it inspires me a lot. They contacted me and told me about the project. I told them I wouldn’t play anymore and their project convinced me, it seemed super ambitious, which hasn’t been done before.
IN: How did you cope with leaving football?
A: There were things in the environment that put too much pressure on me. I started very early and the last few years have been difficult for me. I wanted to start a new phase with my family, no longer as one. I also achieved a lot in football and really wanted to start my second half.
I decided to go back to Lanus, I gave myself time, which ended the semester. It was difficult, I really miss the game, especially on game day, but Apple TV and MLS gave me the opportunity to be closer to the game.
IN: What do you think of your compatriot Thiago Almada in Atlanta?
A: It so happened that he had to play in a team that was the world champion. The fact that the Argentine coach says: “I will take this boy to the squad for the World Cup”, he chose him, he saw something in Almada that chose him, that’s what is most amazing.
I saw that there are players who are able to get into such a prestigious team. This championship is already seeing its impact expressed in it. Atlanta without Thiago feels pretty lost. He is a young man who continues to grow in search of his peak.
IN: This year, MLS launched the League Cup, a month-long tournament between US clubs and LigaMX. What do you think of this project?
A: The League Cup seems like a fantastic project to me. It will be a unique experience. MLS and Liga MX will do just fine. Both leagues are moving forward.
Andrea Montolivo.
Source: La Opinion
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