Inter Miami head coach Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino has confirmed that former Barcelona duo Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez will be available for the team’s opening game of the 2024 season against Real Salt Lake.
Inter Miami fans can breathe a sigh of relief as Messi and Suarez, along with Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, are expected to feature in the season opener at the newly named Chase Stadium.
Jordi Alba was the only former Barcelona player not to suffer an injury during Inter Miami’s international tour this winter, playing in every preseason game from Saudi Arabia to Japan. Busquets managed just 25 minutes against Vissel Kobe earlier this month due to an ankle problem, Messi had an old adductor issue resurface, and Suarez’s persistent knee problems reoccurred.
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Despite missing Miami’s 4-1 victory over the Hong Kong Team, Messi and Suarez are set to start against RSL after playing limited roles against Vissel Kobe and Newell’s Old Boys last week.
“Yes, they are there to play, and if the 90 minutes are required, then we always see this depending on the needs of the team,” Martino told reporters in Spanish ahead of the first MLS regular-season game of 2024.
Real Salt Lake, led by head coach Pablo Mastroeni, boasts attacking talents like Cristian ‘Chicho’ Arango, Anderson Julio, and Diego Luna. Martino emphasized that despite the experienced players, including Luis Suarez, nearing the end of their careers, they remain fully committed and focused on the task at hand in south Florida.
“The new one is Luis [Suarez], but in reality, I still see them as very committed to the team, to the rest of the squad, excited,” said Martino.
“The truth is that in that sense, from day one, we have found the same answer, and today they continue to hold. Coming from them and especially from the rest of the squad, it is not a minor fact. That the rest of the footballers, especially the younger ones, feel the support they give them.”
The 2024 MLS campaign is set to kick off on February 21, with Martino’s Miami hosting RSL to usher in the new season.