They are both legends at Camp Nou for their trophy-laden spells at Barcelona but a new chapter beckons for Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets in the US.
The former Blaugrana pair are set to reunite stateside when they officially join David Beckham's Inter Miami, with the MLS club set to officially unveil the pair in the coming weeks. Both players spent the majority of their careers in Catalonia where they became close friends after winning a plethora of honours together.
Now, the Herons look set to finally introduce both Messi and Busquets in front of spectators at their temporary DRV PNK on July 16, according to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo. As per the report, the unveiling will take the guise of a celebratory ceremony to commemorate the landmark signings a day after an away game at St Louis.
Technically speaking, both players are under contract at their respective clubs until the end of June and will officially sign for Inter Miami upon the re-opening of the MLS transfer window in July.
Supporters will be expected to pack out the South Beach venue, with the clamour to catch a glimpse of Messi, in particular, having reached unprecedented levels in the past month. A debut for both players could well be in the offing on July 21 versus Cruz Azul in the Leagues Cup.
Speaking in Argentina, Messi expressed his excitement over his impending switch to the US, saying he will take some time away from action prior to the switch to refresh before his big move. He said: "There will be a few days of vacation and then I will start in my new city, my new club. I am very excited."
Both players received considerable interest from other clubs before choosing to move to MLS, with Messi attracting potential suitors such as his former club Barcelona as well as from the free spending Saudi Pro League. Likewise, Busquets was offered the chance to move to Saudi Arabia but ultimately decided to join his friend and former teammate in Florida.
The duo will have their work cut out for them upon their arrival in America, with Inter Miami having struggled considerably in MLS so far this term. Long serving coach Phil Neville was dismissed earlier in the campaign after a torrid run of form which left the club languishing at the bottom of the Eastern Conference.
Interim coach Javier Morales was put in temporary charge of the ailing group following the former Lionesses manager's firing but has been unable to arrest the slide as yet. After another humbling loss, this time in the form of a 4-1 defeat against Philadelphia Union, the team has now lost a staggering seven games in a row.
They also look set to play four more games before Messi plays his first match for his new club, with dates versus Columbus, DC United, Austin and St Louis all in the diary. Sitting some eleven points adrift of the play-off places, it is clear that the Vice City outfit will need a dramatic transformation in its fortunes to salvage this season in the coming months.
