The opening act of the most noteworthy acquisition in Major League Soccer's history reportedly has a target date.
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi is aiming to make his debut on July 21 against Cruz Azul in the Leagues Cup, managing owner Jorge Mas told Michelle Kaufman of The Miami Herald and a group of reporters in a conversation reported Monday night.
Per Mas, Inter Miami is working on adding 3,000 seats to its stadium in Fort Lauderdale before that date.
"We have already contracted to fill in the corners of the stadium that should increase capacity by approximately 3,000 to 3,200 seats," Mas said. "We are gearing up to do that work in the next four weeks. Every game will be sold out. The demand for tickets has been 10 times what we can handle on a season ticket basis."
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Mas also stressed that the league has not bent any rules to accommodate Messi's arrival.
"There are no categories or anything that is being changed to incorporate Lionel Messi on to inter Miami’s roster," Mas said, even with the 2022 World Cup champion reportedly set to make in excess of $50 million per year.
Inter Miami is currently 5–12 with 17 points, last in MLS’s Eastern Conference and seven points behind CF Montréal for the conference’s ninth and final playoff spot.
