In order to make the most of the presence of Messi, Suárez and the rest, the Miami franchise planned the largest tour in its history, and for a club in MLS.
Diego GorostietaDiegsGorostietaCalum RocheEnglish_ASEstados UnidosUpdate: Jan 25th, 2024 18:28 EST
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The arrival of Inter Miami in Saudi Arabia to play warm up games against Al Hilal and Al Nassr represents the largest preseason tour in the history of a Major League Soccer club. This trip aims to set a precedent, and although Tata Martino referred to it as “an unusual tour,” the benefits for the club will be significant.
The Messi, Suárez, Busquets, Alba show
In addition to their stop in Saudi Arabia, the team headlined by Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba will make extra stops in Hong Kong and Japan, where they will conclude this extensive journey. Despite facing criticism, the team from Miami sees this as a crucial point in preparation for the season and a turning point for the team’s global growth, both in terms of sports and economically in brand recognition.
MIA ✈️ RUH pic.twitter.com/ODPjVXbYAc
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) January 25, 2024
Evidence of the seriousness with which Inter Miami approached the trip is the full commitment of the entire staff. Beyond the 25 players and Tata Martino’s coaching staff, almost the entire personnel accompanied the franchise on this important journey.
Martino, during the presentation of Suárez, revealed that the main focus of the preseason would be the matches against Al Hilal, Al Nassr, Hong Kong, and Vissel Kobe. AS USA, with its correspondent in Miami, gained access to some important details about this trip.
Inter Miami’s 100+ entourage
We learned that the staff accompanying the team consists of nearly 100 people, a number reflecting the significance of this international preseason. In addition to players, coaching staff, senior management, and owners of the franchise, Miami has a list of special guests, sponsors, security personnel, as well as key areas within the club such as press, design, logistics, and other important components.
Llegamos 🗺️🌏📍 pic.twitter.com/FR4eVBT8NE
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) January 25, 2024
With this tour, Inter Miami aims to find motivation and form before returning home to conclude the preseason against Newell’s Old Boys. Subsequently, they will face the start of the MLS against Real Salt Lake and LA Galaxy, aiming to assert themselves as one of the top teams in US and CONCACAF football. This initiative, set in motion thanks to Messi, aims to accomplish what few have done so far.
“Within this long journey, there is a first week in Riyadh where we will be able to work (…) even the matches are part of the work because everything trained on the field has to be reflected in the matches, so these two matches in Arabia will be well received,” Tata stated before the trip.
Martino reiterated the importance of the team having a few days of adaptation before the first match in Arabia.
