Inter Miami suffered an early blow ahead of the new MLS season with Argentine winger Facundo Farias likely to miss the entire 2024 season with a serious knee injury, the club said on Saturday.
Farias, who plays in attack along with Lionel Messi, suffered the injury during the team's opening pre-season friendly of the year, a goalless draw against the El Salvador national team on Friday.
Farias was carried off during the game at the Estadio Cuscatlan and the team said he had suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury and would need surgery in the coming weeks.
He is "expected to be sidelined for the remainder of the season", the club said in a statement. The 21-year-old was bought by Miami from Argentine club Colon in July with coach Gerardo Martino seeing him as providing additional speed and energy alongside his compatriot Messi.