Coach Martino confirms Messi decision for Inter Miami's MLS opener

The preseason has finally come to an end and Inter Miami are ready to begin their journey in 2024. They are aiming to improve on last year's historic performance, when they were champions for the first time in the Leagues Cup. However, they know that they will need to show a better level than they did during the friendly matches. There they only managed one victory, with an all-star team from the Hong Kong league, while they drew three and lost the other three matches.

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The Herons added some important players in this transfer window, such as striker Luis Suarez, midfielder Julian Gressel and defender Nicolas Freire, but also lost some others. Josef Martinez, Dixon Arroyo and Kamal Miller left, while Facundo Farías and Benjamin Cremaschi underwent surgery and will be out of action for a long time.

But undoubtedly the biggest fears of the fans were related to Lionel Messi. The Argentine forward suffered a muscular discomfort near the end of the match against Al-Hilal in the Riyadh Season Cup and that prevented him from training normally and playing as much as he wanted in the following friendlies. However, against Newell's Old Boys last Thursday he was able to play quite a few minutes and looked fully recovered.

Now, just 24 hours before the Major League Soccer debut, Gerardo Martino confirmed his decision on Leo. In the press conference before the match against Real Salt Lake, the coach gave the news that everyone was waiting for: Lionel Messi is fully recovered from his physical problems and will be part of the starting lineup in the season opener. Thus, the thousands of fans at the DRV PNK Stadium in Miami and the millions of viewers watching on TV will be able to enjoy the magic of the Argentinean star in the first official match of the season.

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He will have a very demanding year

For Lionel Messi 2024 will be a special year. He will play a Major League Soccer season from the start for the first time and will be aiming for the title. In addition, The Herons will also compete in the CONCACAF Champions League, the most important club tournament in North and Central America. And that's not all, as with the Argentine National Team he will play in the Copa America, perhaps his last major international tournament.