INTER MIAMI are already basking in the Lionel Messi effect.
That’s after their Instagram followers jumped an incredible four hundred percent in under a day.
Messi, 35, left fans stunned by announcing a free transfer to David Beckham’s MLS franchise yesterday.
The ex-PSG star was widely expected to rejoin Barcelona.
But Messi will now continue his glittering career in America, six months after leading Argentina to World Cup glory.
The veteran is undoubtedly one of the biggest and most popular sports stars on the planet.
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He boasts an astonishing net worth of almost £500million.
And over £50m of that is pocketed through lucrative sponsorship deals.
Inter Miami are now starting to feel the beginning of that effect on Instagram.
Before Messi’s move was announced, their account had 900,000 followers from across the globe.
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But less than 24 hours later, that figure had jumped to a whopping 4.7m.
That’s an astonishing increase of around 411 percent.
Simultaneously, Messi’s former club PSG have since lost one million followers after his exit last weekend.
And the ace’s influence is sure to continue growing at Miami once he pulls on the jersey for his first match.
Reflecting on his decision to join the Americans, Messi said: “I’m at a point where I want to step out of the spotlight a bit, think more about my family.
“I had two years where I was so unhappy on a personal level that I didn’t enjoy it.
“I had that month that was spectacular for me because of winning the World Cup, but apart from that it was a difficult period for me.
“I want to rediscover joy, enjoy my family, my children, the day-to-day.
“And that’s why the decision for Barcelona didn’t happen.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
