Tata Martino has said that the decision to play Lionel Messi in the US Open Cup final could come down to the wire.
Speaking to the Athletic, the Inter Miami manager revealed that he will sit down with the 36-year-old forward at some point today to see how Messi feels.
The attacker has been struggling with injury since the international break earlier this month, and Messi is now a big doubt to feature in tonight’s US Open Cup final against the Houston Dynamo.
Messi has been a revelation for Inter Miami and will be key for the Herons if they’re to secure their second piece of silverware of the season.
And Martino has said he will speak with Messi today, with the Argentina coach saying: “I’ll sit down with him and see how he feels.
“We always talk. I really don’t know if later on the resolution that we make is the one that we agree on. Perhaps tomorrow we’ll get together and see what he says.”
Messi needs to at least feature in US Open Cup final
Messi has been pivotal in Inter Miami’s rise up the ranks in MLS, and Martino will hope that the attacker is fit enough to at least feature from the bench later tonight.
The US Open Cup is one of the biggest prizes an American soccer team can win, and Messi will want to play his part in handing Inter Miami the trophy in Florida.
As a result, if Messi isn’t fit enough to start, the attacker needs to be named on the bench, with the 36-year-old a fantastic weapon from the sideline.