Inter Miami will host Liga Mx’sCruz Azul on Friday July 21 as the inaugural match of the Leagues Cup 2023.
The game has generated a lot of expectations due to the possible debut of Lionel Messi with Miami.
With only days to go before the whistle blows at DRV PNK Stadium, David Beckham put a damp on the hope of seeing “La Pulga” play for the first time in U.S. soil.
Fans have been euphoric about a possible debut by Messi against the Mexican squad after his official presentation on Sunday night.
In an interview with ESPN, the former English footballer commented that they will protect their star player until they are sure he is ready:
It’s a tough match. We know they are a great team with very good individuals. We don’t know if Lio will play the game or whether he will come on because I think at the end of the day he needs to be ready. We need to protect him and make sure that he’s ready because he’s had a vacation. He’s now been in Miami for a week and he’s been training really hard and he looks great.
On the other hand, Beckham was clear that the decision is up to Messi himself and manager Gerardo Martino to decide when his debut will take place:
I think Lio and Tata will decide when he plays and when he will come on on Friday, but the atmosphere here will be incredible and hopefully, we get a win
How long has Messi been out of action?
After concluding the 2022-2023 season with Paris Saint-Germain at the end of May, Messi joined the Argentina squad for a couple of friendly games against Australia and Indonesia.
During his vacation in Argentina, he took part in the farewell friendly matches of Maxi Rodríguez and Juan Román Riquelme on June 25 in a very relaxed atmosphere.
In total, Lionel Messi hasn’t played a game in 33, which is a long time for any footballer. This could be a factor for him missing out the game against Cruz Azul on Friday.
Inter Miami: schedule and group in Leagues Cup
The Florida squad will play within Leagues CupGroup “South 3” along with Atlanta United and Cruz Azul.
After opening the tournament on Friday, they will play Atlanta on July 25 to determine whether or not they will advance to the knockout stage.
Read More: World News | Entertainment News | Celeb News
Marca
