The Spanish Jordi Alba assured this Tuesday that at the end of the last season he was clear that his "cycle in Barcelona had ended" and that he agreed to sign for Inter Miami despite "having offers of more money" because his priority was to feel "important". , as stated in his presentation press conference with the club of Argentine coach Gerardo 'Tata' Martino.
"When I decided to leave Barcelona, I had nothing, but it was clear to me that my cycle at Barcelona had ended. I left with the National Team and then talks began with Inter Miami. I had other offers, but the right decision was to come here. We have desire to continue competing, winning, and I think we are in the ideal scenario," Alba said at a press conference organized at the club's sports center in Fort Lauderdale.
"I made the decision after the National Team (in the Final 4 of the League of Nations). Despite having offers of more money, I think that the important thing for me was to feel important. The confidence of the club and the coach made me value this option as the one I liked the most," he added.
He expressed his gratitude to the Inter Miami board of directors, from the top leaders Jorge and José Mas and the British David Beckham, to 'Tata' Martino, who made possible the historic additions of the Argentine Lionel Messi and the Spanish Sergi Busquets to complete again with Alba a legendary trio seen in Barcelona.
"One of the things that made me come here was the affection that everyone transmitted to me, Jorge, José, David, also the coach. Very grateful for the personal treatment. Now I will try to make up for it on the pitch," he said.
He stressed that both he and Messi and Busquets come to Miami to "compete and leave Inter Miami at the highest level possible" and stressed that, on a personal level, he is "very happy" to meet "with Leo and Busi".
"From the experience we have we want to try to help our teammates, and I'm sure we'll also learn from them in this league," he said.
And he did not hesitate to set the bar high when asked about what titles he intends to win in the United States: "Everything we play. I have been lucky to win everything with Barcelona and almost everything with the national team. I come here to win. I am a very competitive player." "We will have to earn it on the field, but the illusion that I see will bring us closer to the titles," he insisted.
Alba also considered that Messi is still the same person he met at Barcelona and that he saw him wanting to succeed and compete.
Inter Miami, despite being bottom team in the East of the MLS, is experiencing a moment of great enthusiasm and began the Leagues Cup, the new tournament between American and Mexican teams, with two victories out of two. They qualified for the round of 32 and will play this Wednesday against Orlando in a direct elimination match.
"I have trained quite well in Barcelona, it is true that it is not easy to train alone, but I worked hard to be able to compete, I wanted to train with my teammates, they have all received me in a spectacular way. Physically I feel good. It is a major climate change , but I feel strong, energetic and above all very excited.
