Julian Gressel, a standout for Inter Miami, has disclosed what Lionel Messi said to him in English.
Messi gave up playing in Europe last summer when he signed with Major League Soccer team Inter Miami, which is partially owned by former England star David Beckham. Messi had previously played for French club Paris Saint-Germain.
Three of his former Barcelona teammates, Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba, and Sergio Busquets, have joined the Argentine since his arrival.
Because Messi has frequently performed his interviews in Spanish, fans have long speculated if he is fluent in English. The Inter Miami player Gressel has now spoken out in English about what Messi said to him.
In an interview with PLAYER/MANAGER, he stated: “I think it was the first game against Al Hilal and he [Messi] came over to me and said something in English. That was the first time he spoke to me in English.
“Now, we change. You stay and Jordi runs. Jordi goes more in behind.’ I was like okay, sounds good.”
Gressel added: “He goes, ‘English, pretty good no?’ I was like ‘yes, very, very good, I understood everything’.”
Fellow player Robert Taylor said back in July: “I’m taking Spanish lessons, and he’s taking English lessons.
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“I’ve heard him say a couple things in English to me and couple of players around him, so I think he speaks pretty good English.”
Messi acknowledged learning English in an interview with journalist Guillem Balague. He stated, as reported by The Sun in 2021: “I’ve been learning English for a year and a half but when you’re there in England, you get to learn it through necessity. I understand it, but I don’t speak it.”
Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi has made 16 appearances in all competitions since joining Inter Miami, tallying 12 goals during that time. When Inter Miami returns to action on Saturday night at Chase Stadium in the MLS, they will play Orlando.
