Inter Miami have officially announced that their pre-season tour of China will now no longer be taking place.
The Herons announced on their website via a statement that Lionel Messi and company won’t be heading to Asia ‘due to unforeseen circumstances in China’.
The statement reads: “The tour promoter, NSN, has informed Inter Miami CF of the cancellation of its China Tour due to unforeseen circumstances in China.
“Inter Miami’s ambition remains to expand its global reach by playing in front of incredible fans from across the globe; the Club will continue to explore future opportunities with NSN to achieve this goal.
With Inter Miami now the most prized MLS side with Messi on their ranks, no tour of China could be a massive blow to their potential growth as a franchise.
However, another tour elsewhere in the world is likely in the works, with every soccer fan around the world now eager to see Messi play for Inter Miami.
Inter Miami need to find a China alternative soon
China was always an interesting choice for Inter Miami to head out to this winter for pre-season, and with the tour now cancelled, a new destination needs to be arranged.
Given Messi’s popularity and the lack of awareness of MLS in Asia, remaining in the continent could be an idea for Inter Miami, with Japan and South Korea two countries that are no strangers to massive clubs coming to tour.
Indeed, a new booking to Asia is likely on the cards, and Inter Miami will want to make the most out of the experience if they’re to be fully prepared for the new season.