Lionel Messi’s next goal is to find a new home for him and his family in South Florida. Arguably the best football player in the world is aiming for a spot in Delray Beach or Boca Raton, tThe Palm Beach Post reports.
The European superstar, who won the World Cup with Argentina last year, announced his move to Major League Soccer’s Internacional Miami a few weeks ago. He then contacted Douglas Elliman’s luxury real estate agent, Senada Adzem, to help him find a home.
“My understanding is that he is now seriously considering Palm Beach County because he has more privacy, more land, and safety is very important,” Azem told the media. “He’s one of the most famous, if not the most famous people in the world, and I think it’s a little quieter here.”
Although Macy owns at least three apartments in Sunny Isles Beach, including one in the Porsche Design Tower, he likely doesn’t live there. He reportedly looked for homes in Fort Lauderdale first, but he had other ideas because waterfront properties meant people had access by boat.
Adzam told the Palm Beach Post she’s proposing a $24 million, 11,500-square-foot Delray Beach home with six bedrooms and 11 bathrooms.
“They’re going through the process of understanding what they want to be in,” Azem told the outlet. “Miami is the center of his fandom. He’ll have more privacy here.”
Speculation about where Messi will live has been swirling since he signed a record-breaking contract with Inter Miami, with social media filled with pictures of him shopping at a Publix in South Florida.
Miami’s newest sports hero is expected to earn $50 million to $60 million a year for two-and-a-half seasons with Inter Miami, a relatively new football team owned by Miami businessmen George Maas, Jose Maas, David Beckham and other partners. Messi’s deal also includes a stake in the team, as well as revenue-sharing agreements with Adidas, Apple and others.
— Ted Glazer
