Messi y Inter Miami empatan con Newell’s al final de caótica pretemporada | Deportes

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami concluded their chaotic preseason on Thursday with a 1-1 draw against Newell’s Old Boys, the team where the Argentine star emerged.

This marked the first time that the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner faced the club where he also began his career, along with fellow Argentine Gerardo Martino, the current coach of Inter Miami.

Messi played for the Rosario-based club as a child before moving to Barcelona’s youth academy, where he rose to stardom. Martino, also from Rosario, played for Newell’s and also managed the team, holding the record for the most appearances in the club’s history.

The eagerly awaited match at a packed stadium saw 36-year-old Messi having a limited impact on the game. However, he displayed good form, showing good speed and easily evading his opponents, despite missing a free-kick in the first half.

Having missed a previous match due to a persistent injury, fans were disappointed when Messi remained on the bench throughout the game. Some spectators even demanded a refund of their tickets, ultimately leading to the cancellation of a few Argentina national team friendly matches in China.

Following his 60-minute appearance in the match, Messi left along with Uruguayan Luis Suárez. A young fan managed to invade the pitch and attempt to approach Messi, but was quickly intercepted by security personnel.

Martino expressed confidence in Messi’s recovery, stating that “he told me that he finished the game very well.”

Despite a disappointing preseason marked by negative public relations and mixed results on the field, Inter Miami will be looking to focus on the 2024 regular season and aim for improved performance after failing to qualify for the playoffs in the previous year.

The club’s first regular season match is set against Real Salt Lake on February 21, with Martino anticipating that Messi will be ready for the game.

The preseason may not have gone according to plan for Inter Miami, but the team remains optimistic about their chances in the upcoming regular season. With Messi and Suárez leading the squad, there is considerable anticipation for their performance.

This article originally appeared on The Associated Press and is subject to copyright. All rights reserved. No part of this material may be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission.

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