Inter Miami coaches are reportedly confident that Lionel Messi will be fit enough to feature against Vissel Kobe this week.
The Herons captain didn’t play at all on the weekend in Hong Kong as Messi was rested due to injury, with Luis Suarez also missing out on the pre-season friendly.
Whilst the outrage from Messi not playing on Sunday has ranged from official government complaints to David Beckham being booed, Inter Miami’s decision to rest the forward could turn out to be a smart one.
And according to Argentine publication M1, Inter Miami coaches now think Messi could be fit enough to feature for the Florida franchise in Tokyo against reigning J-League champions Vissel Kobe.
With it being the final international friendly for Inter Miami in this mammoth pre-season tour, Messi potentially being fit would be a huge boost for Tata Martino’s side heading into the new MLS year.
And for supporters, Messi being cleared to play will be huge after Sunday’s no-show in Hong Kong, with more negative PR the last thing Inter Miami need this pre-season.
Lionel Messi playing for Inter Miami vs Vissel Kobe will be huge
With Messi missing Inter Miami’s latest friendly, it shouldn’t be no real surprise that the Argentine international is now expected to feature against Vissel Kobe.
Yet given how little the forward has played in the last two fixtures, Messi returning to the pitch in some significant capacity would be viewed by many fans and pundits as a massive achievement.
As we know, Inter Miami will want to end their international pre-season with a bang with a big result against Vissel Kobe, with Messi seemingly eager to feature.
And the Inter Miami captain’s return will be a big morale boost for the Herons, especially with the MLS season slowly creeping up on us.