Inter Miami's co-owner has hinted that incoming superstar signing Lionel Messi will not play in the MLS All-Stars game this summer.
The Argentinian icon will swap Paris Saint Germain for the Floridan MLS outfit in July, bringing to an end an illustrious 19 seasons in Europe which included an illustrious 17-year spell with Barcelona. There is no doubt that the 35-year-old's move stateside ranks as one of the landmark moments for the sport in the US with his arrival expected to help catapult the popularity of soccer in the country ahead of the World Cup in 2026.
Despite July 4 being the date the Camp Nou legend will officially sign for the Herons, supporters will have to wait until later in the month the catch a glimpse of the winger in action for Inter Miami. In fact, club owner Jorge Mas has revealed to ESPN that Messi is expected to first don the club's pink jersey for a competitive match in the Leagues Cup match against Cruz Azul on July 21.
This would, however, mean that the world-renowned star would more than likely miss the MLS All-Stars game, which will take place versus Premier League giants Arsenal a day before his prospective debut for his new club. This year's edition of the annual fixture which sees a dream XI of MLS players take on an international club and will take place in Washington DC.
In spite of this, billionaire Mas is in no doubt that the signing will have a major impact within the US, with the fact that all tickets to see Messi in action at away grounds sold out within hours of the announcement of his arrival going some way to prove his point. In an interview with reporters from outlets including the Miami Herald, he said: "I think there will always be a 'before and after [Lionel] Messi' when we talk about the sport in the United States.
"I cannot overemphasize the magnitude of this announcement. Having the world's greatest player here is something that is significant for our league, and for the football ecosystem in the United States. Lionel Messi is coming to this country to win cups and make a difference."
Staggeringly, second hand tickets to see Messi in action on his debut versus Cruz Azul are listed at $1065 each on SeatGeek, which is the cheapest price available on the website. Unsurprisingly, the tickets to witness the Argentine's first Inter Miami had sold out within minutes of the announcement of his impending arrival.
He also confirmed that no special changes to the MLS registration rules will be brought in to accommodate the forward's arrival, which will mean that Inter Miami's current three Designated Players (DP) may either need to be moved on or be moved onto contracts that fall below the league's salary cap. As it stands, club captain Gregore, Rodolfo Pizarro and Leonardo Campana are all on salaries higher than the cap.
With Messi's former Barcelona teammate Sergio Busquets also having been linked with a move to DRV PNK Stadium, it is likely that the powers-that-be at the club will need to free up another DP slot in the coming months. According to Catalan radio station RAC1, the talks between the player and club have ramped up in recent days and could be concluded this week.
Intriguingly, owner Mas posted a teasing message on Twitter, which featured a picture of of three blank Inter Miami shirts, accompanied by the words "Coming soon". Of course, with Messi's signature already having been secured, Busquets could be the first of two arrivals set to join the legendary forward at the South Beach club.
