Will Inter Miami play against Cristiano Ronaldo in February?
Apparently, not.
In a statement posted by The Athletic’s Tom Bogert on November 21st, Inter Miami denied reports stating that the South Florida club will take on Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr in an exhibition match in early February.
“Earlier today, an announcement was issued stating that Inter Miami CF is scheduled to play in the Riyadh Season Cup. This is inaccurate,” the statement said.
“Since day one, Inter Miami CF has set out to be a global brand. To this end, we have been in conversations to determine our 2024 preseason schedule. We look forward to showcasing our players on Inter Miami CF’s first international tour which will be announced in the coming weeks.”
Inter Miami’s preseason schedule has been a hot-button topic. In his end-of-year press conference, team Sporting Director Chris Henderson mentioned that the club is in discussions with several teams about potential friendlies in the US and overseas.
Unfortunately, as of right now, a game against Al-Nassr won’t be in the cards.
Inter Miami’s preseason plans
Inter Miami has big plans for 2024.
The Herons are not only actively pursuing striker Luis Suárez, but Miami is also planning to be aggressive in the Major League Soccer trade market.
The team wants to challenge for more silverware, and revamping its roster will be crucial.
As for the club’s preseason, preparation for 2024 will lay the foundation for a successful season. Throughout Miami’s history, they’ve always fallen flat at the beginning of the year.
Looking to avoid that same fate, Tata Martino’s men will need a full slate of games running through January and early February to get the club ready for the grueling MLS season.
Though fans won’t get to witness another match featuring Messi and Ronaldo, perhaps in the future, the duo will get to play each other one last time.