Trip is a topic of conversation
Miami drags superstar Messi around the world
January 12, 2024, 8:03 a.m
For Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami team, preparation for the new season begins this weekend. And she has the talent. The club travels almost once around the entire globe. Coach Gerardo Martino is trying to make the best of the situation.
Seven games in five countries, plus almost 40,000 kilometers of travel: soccer superstar Lionel Messi is starting his preparation for the new season at Inter Miami with a major world tour. The club’s gigantic trip from the MLS is a topic of conversation, but coach Gerardo Martino is still confident that his team can cope with the workload.
“We understand the business side and the sporting side and try to satisfy both sides without overwhelming one or the other,” said Martino, who is under pressure to use Messi as much as possible on the trip. However, he made it clear: “We have to weigh up how much each player contributes.”
Since the hype surrounding the transfer of the 36-year-old superstar, such friendly games have become an important source of income for Miami and the best advertising abroad. The team will start preparations in Fort Lauderdale at the weekend, then Messi and prominent teammates such as Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Luis Suárez will almost travel around the globe. This is also highly questionable in terms of sustainability.
“We will play against great teams who will prepare us to play at a high level,” said Busquets and, despite the hardships ahead, added: “When there are time changes and long journeys, we have to be prepared and physically fit, and that will help us in the season.”
Miami begins with a test against the El Salvador national team in San Salvador. After a game against FC Dallas in Texas, the US club will play two games in Saudi Arabia, including against Al-Nassr with Cristiano Ronaldo. This is followed by games in Hong Kong and Japan as well as the final test in our own stadium against Messi’s youth club Newell’s Old Boys.