“He’s back” assures the publication of Inter Miami on their social networks with a photo of Lionel Messi on the way to the playing field of the stadium where the team is home. There it is noted that the Rosario is once again part of the squad list by coach Gerardo Martino, who plans to give him minutes thinking about what is to come, with two games in five days. Presumably, the team captain would be a substitute, to enter in the second half and begin to gain rhythm.
After his absence in the last four games of the Florida team and the Argentine national team’s tour of the United States due to a muscle injury in the hamstring of his right leg, Messi is part of the 20 footballers mentioned for this Saturday’s match at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale against Colorado Rapids by date 7 of the Major League Soccer (MLS), at 8:30 p.m. (Argentine time, with transmission on Apple TV).
“Tomorrow we return home to face the Colorado Rapids. “He knows the entire team,” they indicated from the club’s social networks and the captain appears on that list, who He played his last game at Inter Miami on March 14 in the 3-1 victory against Nashville for the rematch of the round of 16 of the Concachampions. That night He started and was replaced 5 minutes into the second stage.
After that game he was not in his club again, but he was also left out of the list of those called up by Lionel Scaloni for the friendlies that the Argentine team played in the United States against El Salvador and Costa Rica, on the 22nd and 26th of last month, respectively. .
There was speculation about his return, at least to the substitute bench of the North American franchise, last Wednesday against Rayados de Monterrey, but hours before the first leg of the Concachampions quarterfinals it was announced that he was not available. After the 2-1 defeat at home, Martino pointed out that they were going to “evaluate it day by day” to define his presence in the next meetings, depending on his physical condition. “The season is long,” added the DT.
Since the last game Messi played, Inter Miami defeated DC United as a visitor 3-1 and did not win again: they were beaten 4-0 by New York RB, drew 1-1 with NYC FC and lost to Rayados in the duel last Wednesday.
To face Colorado, Inter Miami includes four other Argentines on the squad list: Nicolás Freire, Tomás Avilés, Franco Negri and Marcelo Weigandt. For their part, Facundo Farías and Federico Redondo are in the rehabilitation stage of their knee injuries.
Inter Miami is second to Cincinnati in Zone A of the MLS with 11 points and regardless of what happens with Colorado, it will have a key duel next Wednesday in Mexico against Monterrey for the rematch of the quarterfinals. Tata hopes that the minutes that Leo adds this Saturday will serve to better reach that eliminatory duel, in which the captain could start.