Days after implying that Lionel Messi would be a substitute owing to the team’s rigorous schedule of games, Tata Martino refuses to confirm that Messi will start for Inter Miami against the New York Red Bulls.
The coach stated that selections for the squad would be determined following training on Friday.
Messi recently won the Leagues Cup after spending an entire season in Europe.
When asked by reporters at a press conference if Lionel Messi will play in his first Major League Soccer match this weekend during an away match at the New York Red Bulls, Inter Miami boss Tata Martino gave no clear answers.
Messi has participated in every game and has started the majority of them during a particularly active spell for the team, during which they won their first-ever trophy, the Leagues Cup.
The Argentine only recently came at the end of July after spending the entire club season in France with Paris Saint-Germain.
Martino announced in Spanish, “We’re going to have the practise this afternoon; I’ll talk to the majority of the [the squad] and we’ll see how to put the team together.”
Lionel Messi has had a hectic start to his time in the United States after being thrust into the action with Leagues Cup participation.
The Argentine maestro did not let down, scoring 10 goals during the competition, taking home the best player prize, and giving Inter Miami its first-ever championship.
Just a few days later, he added another triumph to his resume by assisting Inter Miami in its victory over FC Cincinnati to get to the US Open Cup final.
But Messi won’t play in MLS until Saturday’s game against the New York Red Bulls, which will also likely be his first excursion outside of the New York region.
This has caused ticket prices to soar, with the door price on Friday at 3:45 p.m. ET standing at $318, according to SeatGeek.
But it’s still unclear if Messi will participate.
It was uncertain as of Friday.
Will the greatest football player in history get any rest before his first game in the biggest city in the country?