Fernando Romero Nuñez Argentine football superstar Lionel Messi announced on Tuesday that he’ll be partnering with his Uruguayan long-time friend and teammate Luis Suárez to form Deportivo LSM, a football club that will compete in the Uruguayan league system.
The club was originally founded by Suárez as Deportivo LS in 2018, in Ciudad de la Costa. According to the Uruguayan star, it already has over 3,000 members and a sports complex with a wide range of children’s activities.
The club now adds Messi as a partner, with the name changing to reflect his involvement.
“I want to thank Luis for giving me this opportunity to join him,” said Messi in an announcement shared through the players’ Instagram accounts. “This project you’ve been working on for so many years has grown a lot. To be part of it with you now gives me pride. I’m glad you chose me to join you and I hope I can help it keep growing and working next to you.”
Suárez announced the club will start competing in Uruguayan Football Association (AUF) tournaments at both academy and professional levels. The club is set to start competing in AUF’s fourth tier, called the Divisional D. Sebastián Taramasco, former director of football at Uruguayan footballing giant Nacional, has been appointed for the same role at Deportivo LSM.
“It’s a big step forward for me and my family,” said Suárez, a former FC Barcelona and Liverpool player. “It’s a project we believe in, where we look to give young players not only a sporting infrastructure but a human one, the one we may have missed out on as young kids.”
