After years of playing together at FC Barcelona and Inter Miami, Luis Suárez and Lionel Messi have announced the launch of a new football club, Deportivo LSM. The pair made the announcement on Tuesday.
Suárez, the Uruguayan international, explained that he and Messi had been working on the idea of ‘Deportivo LSM, a name inspired by their initials, since 2018. The club, which will feature both youth and senior teams, is to be based in Uruguay.
Although Deportivo LSM will not immediately join the top flight of Uruguayan football, the Primera División, it is expected to begin in the fourth tier of the professional league system.
According to 38-year-old Suárez, the project had been in development for some time before he brought it to Messi, who pledged his support in helping to build the new Uruguayan side.
The ex-Liverpool star said, “Messi and I have had similar journeys at the highest level of football, which is why I’m proud to introduce not just a teammate, but a friend who shares my passion. This project is the ideal way for us to bring our shared football vision to life.”
However, 37-year-old Messi stated that his decision to join the club was largely influenced by Suárez’s involvement.
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The Argentine star expressed appreciation, saying, “I want to thank Luis for bringing me into this. He invited me to be part of a project he’s been developing for years, and it’s made significant progress. I’m looking forward to supporting him fully and helping the club grow with him.”
Messi, who joined Barcelona at 13 and made his competitive debut at 17 in October 2004, played numerous matches alongside Suárez, who moved from Liverpool to Barcelona in a transfer valued at £64.98 million.
Suárez became part of a formidable attacking trio, known as ‘MSN’—Messi, Suárez and Neymar, which proved dominant across multiple competitions, including La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the UEFA Champions League.
In December 2023, Suárez left Grêmio to reunite with Messi at Inter Miami in Major League Soccer (MLS), following Messi’s departure from French side Paris Saint-Germain, which he joined in August 2021.
Since their reunion, the pair have played a pivotal role in Inter Miami’s campaign, significantly contributing to the club’s success.
