Inter Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender has praised Lionel Messi’s humility, saying the Argentine superstar “just wants to be one of the guys” at his new club.
Messi has transformed Inter Miami since his July arrival, with the club going on a 12-game unbeaten run that was snapped last weekend after a 5-2 defeat to Atlanta United — a game Messi sat out.
The Argentina legend has been on an individual tear as well, scoring 11 goals in the 11 games he’s played so far with Inter Miami. Despite Messi’s status as an all-time great, Callender said that his new teammate has simply tried to be a normal member of the team since his arrival.
“He’s a great teammate. He’s kind of shy and, you know, soft-spoken. I always have to think that this guy is coming to a whole new league, a whole new country. He’s probably trying to get settled. Everything is new for him, you know?” Callender told U.S. Soccer’s website ahead of next week’s U.S. Open Cup final against Houston.
“So I just did my best to help him feel welcome. I tried not to fanboy or anything and I think we’ve developed your pretty average standard teammate relationship.
“I see his dedication to the sport and to this team. In the short time he’s been with us, he’s really bought into what we’re trying to do and he’s made some great contributions on the field and off. He just wants to be one of the guys, you know? He wants to be one of our teammates and he’s very humble and that’s something that I respect a lot.”
Callender has been on a rapid rise himself, going from a third-stringer in Miami to one of the best goalkeepers in MLS and now a three-time U.S. men’s national team call-up.
The 25-year-old said that he’s learned a lot from his USMNT camps as he looks to absorb as much as he can from experienced international stars.
“You’re wearing the crest. You’re playing with the best players in your country and you’re competing against some of the best competition in the world,” he said. “There’s just something special that comes with representing your country.
“I’m learning from guys who’ve been to World Cups, who’ve played in different competitions around the world and represented our nation plenty of times. I’m learning from their mentality. Their approach to the game has really helped me become a more competitive player.”
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