|
Miami coach Tata Martino said Messi and newly
signed Sergio Busquets are ready for game action, but he has yet
to decide if they come off the bench against Cruz Azul in the
teams' Leagues Cup opener.
"From what I have seen up to now they are going fit to play and
it is likely that on Friday they can be there," Martino told
Argentina's ESPN Futbol 12 on Wednesday. "Whether that will be
as starters or coming in at the half, we will have to make that
decision yet, but as I see it, Leo as well as Busi can play."
Tickets for the game are going for between $275 and $110,000,
according to ticket reselling website Vivid Seats.
Miami signed Busquets, Messi's longtime teammate at FC
Barcelona, on Sunday, the same day as the official welcome given
to Messi at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Miami is last in the Eastern Conference of MLS, sporting a
5-14-3 mark and 12 points behind the red line for the playoffs.
But Martino said the Herons are going to get the best version of
Messi.
"But someone I admire a lot told me that he is coming to MLS
carrying an empty suitcase but without all the pressure he had
in Barcelona in 2010-11 or the pressure of the national team,"
Martino said. "Now, I think I am going to find a very
competitive version of him because he has the need to win
wearing this shirt now, because he has not won here yet."
--Field Level Media
[© 2023 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content. |
|
