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News, Blog and GuidesThe Herons were without former Barcelona trio Messi, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets in Sunday’s draw at Orlando City.
Roddy ConsRoddyConsUpdate: Sep 25th, 2023 04:48 EDT
CARMEN MANDATOAFP
Inter Miami made a huge splash in the summer transfer market by signing Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, who have had an incredible impact since joining David Beckham’s Herons. The former Barcelona trio have helped the team win the 2023 Leagues Cup, reach the final of the US Open Cup and climb off the bottom of the MLS Eastern Conference and overall standings in just over two months at their new club.
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Sharing the points in Orlando tonight. pic.twitter.com/pWej0WliyY
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) September 25, 2023
Messi, Alba and Busquets all miss Clásico del Sol
One minor concern surrounding the signings of the three veterans was their advancing years, with Alba the youngest of the trio at 34. They played a significant amount of soccer immediately after moving to the United States but Messi and Alba have picked up recent injuries, while all of them sat out Sunday’s draw in the Clásico del Sol away to Orlando City. Just a coincidence or a sign that they need to slow down a little?
US Open Cup final up next for Inter Miami
The fact that Inter Miami’s next match is the US Open Cup final against Houston Dynamo, to be played at DRV PNK Stadium on Wednesday 27 September (kick-off at 8:30 p.m ET) will surely have influenced head coach Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino’s decision not to risk any of his star players just three days earlier in Florida.
What problems are Messi, Alba and Busquets suffering from?
The Argentine manager revealed before the clash in Orlando that Messi was “struggling with an old scar tissue problem”, while Alba had “muscular fatigue”. Busquets, meanwhile, didn’t feature as he had been suffering from migraines, which had affected his vision.
🗣️Tata Martino on Leo Messi’s readiness for the final on Wednesday:“It is very difficult to determine the percentage of his presence, because it is a difficult decision, especially because of the future risks.” #Messi #Intermiamicf #MLS pic.twitter.com/ez0MtHhC4V
— Inter Miami FC Hub (@Intermiamifchub) September 25, 2023
Messi to be assessed “day by day”
Following the draw at Exploria Stadium, Martino was inevitably asked about whether Messi would be involved in the US Open Cup final against Houston and kept his cards close to his chest:
