David Beckham played a large role in helping Inter Miami land Lionel Messi
But West Ham vice chairman Karren Brady thinks Victoria deserves credit too
Is Kai a problem for Arteta? Listen to It’s All Kicking Off, Mail Sport’s new podcast
Karren Brady believes Victoria Beckham is the ‘brains’ behind her husband David Beckham’s off-field success, with the former England captain thriving as Inter Miami’s co-owner.
The ex-Manchester United and Real Madrid star played a major role in getting Lionel Messi to Miami, a move that has so far worked out swimmingly with the club lifting the Leagues Cup crown.
However, West Ham vice chairman Brady thinks Beckham has received a major hand from Victoria in his post-playing career.
‘Beckham missed a few chances on the field but hardly any at all in business,’ she wrote in her column for The Sun.
‘I have long suspected his wife — former Spice Girl Victoria — has played a major part in his off-pitch success.
‘He has the smile, she has the brains.’
David Beckham and Victoria Beckham are seen at Leagues Cup match between Inter Miami and Orlando
Lionel Messi has lit up the USA since arriving at Inter Miami, with 11 goals in 10 matches so far
Karren Brady has credited Victoria Beckham with her husband’s off-field success
Meghan Markle throws shapes at first night of Beyonce’s Renaissance world tour in California but Harry looks less impressed as he gazes at his phone as they celebrate mum Doria’s 67th birthday ahead of the Duke’s UK return
Prince Harry’s Invictus Games documentary ‘flops as it is fails to hit Netflix’s Top 10 streaming chart in US or the UK’
Holly Willoughby is the new Queen Bee of This Morning: New trailer portrays presenter as show’s big hitter
Earlier this summer, Beckham explained how he and managing owner Jorge Mas ‘snuck’ into a Barcelona hotel in 2019 to meet with Messi’s father, Jorge.
‘We snuck into a hotel, met Jorge Messi and started the conversation,’ Beckham told The Athletic. ‘It purely went, ‘We would love your son to play for our team one day. We know he can’t come yet, but one day we would love to have Leo in Miami.”
In fact, Beckham revealed in the same article that Messi’s arrival was a decade in the making.
‘It all came from a conversation over a glass of wine at dinner,’ he said.
‘I turn to Jorge [Mas] and say, ‘One day, we need Messi to come to our club’. It was probably when we first met.
‘I actually found on my phone the other day one of the first presentations that (advertising agency) Doubleday & Cartwright did — they mocked up one of the jerseys with the logo on and Leo was wearing it. That was 10 years ago. So it was always in my mind.
‘I suppose every owner of a sports franchise thinks, ‘We want to bring the best players to our club’. Does it happen for everyone? Of course not. But we were sat at dinner and we were like, ‘OK, if we could bring Leo for our market, for our fans, for this part of the world, there’s no one better’.’
Messi was unveiled alongside Beckham, Jorge Mas (left) and Jose R. Mas in July
Heart-stopping moment cyclist is hurled into the air when he is hit by driver on wrong side of road as they overtook at red light
Ken Bruce reveals the real reason he left Radio 2: Broadcasting great says he disliked being forced to play new music – and is still upset that BBC bosses made him quit early to stop him ‘badmouthing’ colleagues on air
Is Harry wearing Meghan’s jacket? Eagle-eyed fashion watchers believe Duchess may have lent a top to the gloomy-looking Prince to fit in with Beyoncé’s concert silver dress code (so can you spot the telling clue?)
King Charles has ‘no time in the diary’ to see Prince Harry when he returns to the UK – while Prince William hasn’t spoken to his brother ‘in months’ after bombshell book Spare was released
The results have so far been superb, with a previously struggling Miami side unbeaten in 10 games since Messi’s debut. The No. 10 already has 11 goals for the club.
The appetite to watch the World Cup winner has unsurprisingly been massive, with ticket prices for this weekend’s clash at LAFC starting at a whopping $727.
Ultimately, the early returns of the Messi era have been extremely promising, and Brady thinks Beckham can spearhead even more soccer growth in the USA.
‘I’m sure it’s the start of a US soccer surge but there is lots of work to do,’ she said. ‘If anyone can do it, I am sure David Beck-ham can.’
