Inter Miami’s pre-season schedule continues to grow.
According to Argentine journalist Gaston Edul, Inter Miami is in talks to play an exhibition match against Lionel Messi’s childhood club, Newell’s Old Boys, as a part of their 2024 pre-season preparation.
Edul has claimed that the friendly will be held in either January or February of next year, a month ahead of the 2024 Major League Soccer season. Inter Miami would host the match at their home ground, DRV PINK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Messi played for the Rosario-based team from 1995 to 2000, joining their academy at age six, before moving to Barcelona.
The Argentine has kept his heart close to the club as well. In 2020, Messi scored a goal during a 4-0 Barcelona win over Osasuna and revealed a Newell’s kit under his Barcelona home jersey in honor of the late Diego Maradona.
Inter Miami is set for a busy pre-season, with other reports claiming that the South Florida team could participate in the Florida Cup where they would face off against two Brazilian clubs.
Messi’s boyhood club
Should the friendly come to fruition, Inter Miami will be more than happy to welcome the extra competition.
Though the Herons won Leagues Cup in good form, they still sit outside the playoff spots in the Eastern Conference and could miss out on the post-season altogether.
Come 2024, Inter Miami will look to capitalize on the success they had in Leagues Cup by aiming for MLS Cup. To field a cohesive squad, however, head coach Tata Martino must use pre-season to work on tactics if they want to achieve their goals.
A friendly against a competitive side like Newell’s will not only help Inter Miami strengthen team chemistry but also figure out what tactically works ahead of the 2024 MLS season.