Fans anticipating Lionel Messi‘s hot start in Miami could have cold water thrown on them before kickoff in the match that’s supposed to be his debut.
With Inter Miami set to start Leagues Cup play against Liga MX side Cruz Azul, many are anticipating that the Argentinian maestro will be dazzling fans in south Florida.
But co-owner David Beckham may have raised alarms for fans that have anticipated this move – and spent a lot of money on tickets for the event – by saying Messi may not play at all.
Speaking to ESPN Argentina, Beckham said that the upcoming match against the Mexican side will be a challenge and that Messi may not be ready to participate.
‘We don’t know if Leo is going to play the game or if he will have minutes, because I think that, after all, he needs to be ready,’ Beckham said.
Lionel Messi’s first minutes with his new club, Inter Miami, may not come in the next match
Club co-owner David Beckham says Messi ‘needs to be ready’ as he adjusts to his new team
Messi (left center) has already begun training with his new club and getting back into form
‘We have to protect him and make sure that he is ready, because he has been on vacation and has just arrived in Miami. He has trained and he looks good.
‘I think Lio and Tata [Martino] will decide when and if he plays on Friday, but the atmosphere here will be amazing and hopefully we can get the win.’
That should be cause for concern, as ticket prices for this match have skyrocketed as fans that pack the 18,000 seat DRV PNK Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale will be eagerly anticipating the arrival of Messi.
Some seats are being sold for as much as $110,000 on second-hand markets, with SeatGeek selling its cheapest ticket for $287 at the time of publishing.
Considering that most are buying these seats to watch the World Cup winner, and not just a team sitting last in MLS’s standings, paying exorbitant prices only for Messi not to play will seem like highway robbery.
But with Inter Miami set to play two matches within four days – before a prolonged break in early August – it may mean Messi’s first match may have to wait.
It’s a whirlwind for a Miami team that’s looking up at the rest of the league as fans expect a success story – starting with playoff qualification.
While that may be a bit of a longshot – with Inter Miami needing to win eight of its last twelve league matches to reach one of the nine spots – Beckham notes that the hype surrounding Messi’s arrival is enough to feel good about the future.
Tickets for the game against Cruz Azul in anticipation of Messi’s club debut in South Florida are being sold for as much as $110,000 a seat – with base price seats starting around $250
Beckham says that Messi’s arrival has ‘been a roller coaster’ as attention on the club grows
Beckham adds that Messi (L) and fellow arrival Sergio Busquets (R) have impressed in training
‘From the moment Leo landed a few feet from here, it’s been a rollercoaster,’ Beckham told ESPN Argentina.
‘We wanted everything to be perfect from the moment he entered our stadium. And it’s been great. The presentation the other night. Incredible to see 20,000 fans in the stadium. And to see the eyes of the world on our club, on this league, and on this sport was an incredible moment.
‘So it was incredible. Obviously we saw Leo in training today and he looks very good physically, the same for Sergio (Busquets). Even if he arrived a few days ago and needs a little more time.
‘But it’s a very exciting time for us.’
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