26 August 2023 , 23:28
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Inter Miami’s clash with New York Red Bulls was Lionel Messi’s long-awaited MLS debut - but fans only saw him play half an hour after he was named on the substitutes bench.
Messi had started every game since he came off the bench to score the winner on his debut. But after a gruelling schedule including two cup games that went 120 minutes in the last week, it was decided the time had come to rest the 36-year-old icon.
Within just over five minutes, chants of "we want Messi" broke out around the packed Red Bull Arena. Unfortunately, it was to little avail - and they had been warned.
New manager Gerardo Martino admitted it might happen ahead of the game. He even revealed it will happen more next year, when he is a year older and needs more careful management.
"We will assess further after this evening's training," Martino said. "It is inevitable that we will not have him at some point.
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"I understand the expectations the rest of the world has to watch him, and that is undeniable But I cannot act based on that, because then I would risk doing things wrong.
"This will happen (giving Messi rest) at least three times this year, and next year more. We will have to find a solution.”
That didn’t stop the 25,000 fans who collectively paid $8 million above face value for tickets at an extortionate rate from being disappointed. That’s without considering the fans who had gathered at Times Square, where the game was being screened live.
Lionel Messi was on the bench for the first hour of Inter Miami vs New York Red Bulls (KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images)To add to the frustration, fellow big-name signing Sergio Busquets was also on the bench in a much-changed team. Ex-Barcelona teammate Jordi Alba did start at left-back.
Much to the relief of those in attendance, Messi was finally introduced shortly before the hour mark alongside Busquets and DeAndre Yedlin. It prompted the biggest cheer of the night.
It looked like his league debut would be underwhelming, but he flipped the script with a late goal to wrap up victory and give fans what they wanted. The 2-0 win moved them off the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings.
They still have a chance to make the playoffs with games in hand on teams ahead of them, but they'll no doubt need Messi to play a big role and manage him carefully to ensure they keep their hopes of an unlikely treble alive.