Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami gears up for an intensive pre-season, covering nearly 25,000 miles across seven friendlies in five countries. Despite concerns about overdoing games and travel, coach Gerardo Martino remains confident in balancing the business and sports aspects. The arrival of Messi and other former Barcelona stars has transformed friendlies into a substantial revenue stream for the club.
Martino acknowledges the need to manage player participation carefully, learning from last season’s burnout despite winning the mid-season Leagues Cup. Messi’s limited role towards the end of the season due to injuries raised awareness of the delicate balance required.
Sergio Busquets emphasizes maintaining equilibrium between commercial and football activities, recognizing the importance of facing top teams for preparation. The pre-season journey includes matches in El Salvador, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, and Japan, concluding with a home game against Messi’s boyhood club Newell’s Old Boys on February 15. Inter Miami faces its first test against the El Salvador national team on January 19 after just seven days of training.
