Messi set for Miami debut but maybe off the bench

MIAMI: Lionel Messi should make his debut for Inter Miami against Mexican club Cruz Azul on Friday but the seven-times Ballon d’Or winner may be limited to a role off the bench.

The Argentine arrived in South Florida last week to a wave of enthusiasm and was presented to fans at a special stadium event on Sunday.

But since the initial hype, when club owner Jorge Mas described him as “America’s number 10” and promised the move would “change the football landscape” in the USA, there has been a noticable change of tone.

Messi only started training in earnest this week after spending time with his family on vacation and the opening game of the new Leagues Cup — which pits MLS and Liga MX teams together in a tournament format — may come too soon for the World Cup champion to start.

Co-owner David Beckham said on Tuesday that Messi will play “some part of the game” and coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino, Messi’s compatriot and former Barcelona coach, had suggested he might start on the bench.

At the pre-match press conference, moved to the downtown performing arts center in Fort Lauderdale due to the huge media interest, Martino said they would make a decision on how to use Messi after training on Friday.

“It is very difficult for people not to have expectations,” said Martino, “But it may take a while.”

Spanish midfielder Sergio Busquets, a former teammate of Messi’s from their glory days with Barcelona, certainly doesn’t feel ready yet for a full game in what will also be his debut.

“I need time to adapt. It would be practically impossible for me to play 90 minutes tomorrow,” he said.

The fact that fans have paid around $250 for tickets for what has long been billed as Messi’s debut, means that he almost certainly will