Exciting news for Inter Miami fans as head coach Gerardo Martino has confirmed that both Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez will be available to play against Atlanta United in their upcoming match on Wednesday night at Chase Stadium. This news comes after the duo was rested for the previous clash against the Vancouver Whitecaps. Martino confirmed Messi’s availability by stating, “Yes, Messi will be in the game tomorrow,” but also warned against looking too far ahead to Saturday’s confrontation with St. Louis.
Martino emphasized the importance of focusing on the immediate match before considering the following game, saying, “The idea is that he be present for both games, but first we have to play tomorrow’s game to think about Saturday.” These upcoming matches are the last ones before Messi departs the club to join the Argentinian national team for Copa América preparations, with the international tournament set to kick off on June 20.
While discussions about Messi’s departure have been ongoing with the Argentinian federation, no specific date has been set yet. However, Martino revealed that Messi will play the game on Saturday with Inter Miami before departing with the national team. This decision was influenced by the fact that the Argentinian team will start concentration between Sunday and Monday, allowing Messi to participate in the friendlies without much travel.
Suárez may also soon depart from Inter Miami to join his national team, Uruguay, for the Copa América. Martino mentioned that there has been no official contact with the Uruguayan federation, but news regarding Suárez’s departure is expected to come out later this week. Martino expressed, “We have great chances of losing Luis Suárez to Uruguay for the Copa América,” hinting at the impending announcement.
Midfielder Federico Redondo pointed out that the team expects several absences during the Copa América and Olympics windows due to players like Messi, Matías Rojas, Diego Gómez, and potentially Suárez being called up for national team duties.
Inter Miami will face the challenge of playing five matches during the international break, including fixtures against strong opponents like the Philadelphia Union, Columbus Crew, Nashville SC, Charlotte FC, and FC Cincinnati. Despite the potential absences of key players, the team currently leads the Eastern Conference table with an impressive total of 34 points earned in 16 games.
Moreover, on Monday, St. Louis City SC made an exciting announcement regarding the signing of German midfielder Cedric Teuchert to a two-year contract. The 27-year-old player, who joins from the German second-division club Hannover 96, is now under contract with St. Louis City SC through June 2026, with the option to extend for the remainder of the MLS season.
Inter Miami faces both challenges and opportunities with key players like Messi and Suárez preparing to depart for national team duties. The team will need to navigate through the upcoming matches during the international break while maintaining their top position in the Eastern Conference table. Fans can expect exciting developments both on and off the field as the season progresses.
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