19 January 2024 , 16:35
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Inter Miami’s team bus was swarmed by impassioned fans looking to get a glimpse of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez as the MLS club prepare to face El Salvador in a friendly on their insane preseason tour.
Messi's arrival at the David Beckham-owned club last summer transformed their fortunes as Inter Miami won the Leagues Cup – a midseason tournament played between American and Mexican teams – to deliver Miami's first piece of silverware just weeks after his arrival. Miami were also bottom of the Eastern Conference when Messi arrived and injuries for the Argentine derailed hopes of making a late run at the MLS playoffs.
While he is undoubtedly the star attraction, Messi was not the only marquee signing made by Inter Miami as Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba also moved stateside. One of Messi’s closest friends after the pair starred together at Barcelona, Uruguayan striker Suarez has now also joined the eight-time Ballon d’Or champion in Miami.
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Suarez and Messi played at Barcelona together from 2014 to 2020, forming a legendary attacking trident alongside Neymar. Along with Alba and Busquets, they won the UEFA Champions League and Club World Cup in 2015 and won four La Liga titles.
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Although he has been battling chronic knee issues for years, Suarez remains an effective player and is a household name. Upon landing in El Salvador ahead of the hybrid international-club friendly, fans waited for hours before flooding the streets to welcome Messi and co.
It is the first stop on a mega tour of the Middle East and Aisa ahead of the upcoming MLS season. According to Front Office Sports, the club will fly over 23,000 miles in just three weeks ahead of the new season.
Luis Suarez has joined Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets at Inter Miami ahead of the 2024 MLS season (Getty Images)After the clash with El Salvador, Inter Miami will fly back to the US to face FC Dallas in the Cotton Bowl on 22 January before heading to Saudi Arabia to play both Al-Hilal and Cristiano Ronaldo ’s Al-Nassr in Riyadh.
The club will then fly to Hong Kong to take on the Hong Kong Premier League ’s best. Finally, Inter Miami will head to off to face Vissel Kobe at the Japan National Stadium in Tokyo.
Back in South Florida, Messi will reunite with his childhood club Newell's Old Boys in a final preseason contest for the Herons on 15 February. Six days later, Miami will host Real Salt Lake as the 2024 MLS season begins.