Inter Miami wants Messi to debut on July 21

According to Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas, the club is trying to have striker Lionel Messi in time to play in the first match against Cruz Azul in the Leagues Cup on July 21.

If all goes according to plan, Messi's debut for Inter Miami will take place at the DRV PNK home stadium. According to Spanish newspaper AS , the DRV PNK stadium organizers are speeding up preparations to add 3,000 seats to increase the capacity to 22,000. Security has also been increased to ensure order in the face of the influx of fans due to Messi's great appeal.

According to SeatGeek , the cheapest ticket to watch Inter Miami and Cruz Azul live at the moment is $1,387. This number is expected to increase sharply in the coming time from June 19, after Jorge Mas announced the time frame Inter Miami wants Messi to play his debut match.

Messi is likely to make his debut for Inter Miami on July 21. Photo: Miami Herald — Messi is likely to make his debut for Inter Miami on July 21. Photo: *Miami Herald*

The Leagues Cup is an annual competition that was launched in 2019 between clubs from Major League Soccer (MLS) and Mexico's Liga MX in North America. This year's tournament will take place from July 21 to August 19, with all 77 matches being held in the United States or Canada. The Leagues Cup is organized by MLS and the Mexican Football Federation, and sanctioned by the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF).

For the first time in history, the 2023 Leagues Cup will feature all MLS and Liga MX teams – a total of 47 – as both leagues are suspended. The two finalists and the third-placed team will qualify for the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup, with the winner going straight to the round of 16.

On the evening of June 7, Inter Miami announced the signing of Messi on a free transfer, creating the largest contract in MLS history. To attract the 35-year-old star, the American club coordinated with major brands such as Adidas and Apple. In addition, Messi also received an agreement to own a part of a club in the United States, after his contract with Inter Miami ended.

MLS has a salary cap with several exceptions, including a designated player rule, where a club signs up to three players whose salaries don't count toward the full cap. The rule was created so the LA Galaxy could sign David Beckham in 2007 and name the team after the Englishman.

There have been comparisons between the size of the two deals, but Jorge Mas said Messi's deal with Inter Miami would not be subsidized by MLS. "No rules were changed to bring Messi into the Inter Miami squad," he said.

Mas stressed that Messi's presence is of great significance to MLS and the soccer ecosystem in the United States, so he feels a responsibility - both personally and collectively - to capitalize on the presence of the greatest soccer player in history.

Also on June 19, Mas posted on Twitter an image of three pink Inter Miami jerseys, along with the message "coming soon" and the hashtag "no caption needed." According to Goal , the CEO and executive owner of Inter Miami revealed that they are about to reach an agreement to recruit Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba - two of Messi's former teammates at Barca - on free transfers.

Hong Duy

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