Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets may not start on Friday, but they will likely play in Inter Miami’s League Cup encounter against Cruz Azul, according to coach Tata Martino, who spoke to Argentina’s “ESPN Ftbol 12” on Wednesday.
“From what I’ve seen so far, they’re going to be fit to play, and it’s likely that they’ll be there on Friday,” Martino added. “We’ll have to decide whether they’ll start or come in at halftime, but as far as I’m concerned, Leo and Busi can both play [on Friday].”
Messi and Busquets finished their first training session with the MLS team on Tuesday, but it wasn’t until Wednesday that Martino addressed their health for this match against Cruz Azul, a highly tough Liga MX side.
Despite the absence of guarantees, supporters went out to buy tickets for the game, which ranged in price from $275 to $19,000.
Messi, the World Cup winner and seven-time Ballon d’Or winner signed a 212-year deal for $50-$60 million per year three days ago.
Despite all of Messi’s laurels, Martino believes the Argentina captain is not in Miami to relax and will remain a hard opponent.
“What has not changed is his desire to continue competing and winning,” Martino said. “I think it shows a very salient trait Leo has as a football player. His perpetual desire to compete and win. I think that winning the World Cup took a great weight off his back.
“But someone I admire a lot told me that he is coming to MLS carrying an empty suitcase but without all the pressure he had in Barcelona in 2010-2011 or the pressure of the national team. Now, I think I am going to find a very competitive version of him because he has the need to win wearing this shirt now because he has not won here yet.”
Inter Miami hasn’t won an MLS match in more than two months, going 0-8-3 since beating the New England Revolution on May 13, making the playoffs a distant chance.
However, Friday’s Leagues Cup match between MLS and Liga MX teams in Mexico provides an opportunity for Inter Miami to get back on track.
Cruz Azul, which entered the game with a 0-0-3 record in Liga MX, is the current side in crisis in Mexican football, having scored only one goal in 270+ minutes of play in the Apertura.
This article relied on information from The Associated Press.
