Argentina’s Lionel Messi returned to Inter Miami’s first training session of 2024 in Florida on Saturday, when he was reunited with old Barcelona colleague Luis Suarez, who was signed for the forthcoming season.
Messi and Suarez exercised alongside two more former Barcelona teammates, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, on the first day.
After spending the holidays in his homeland of Rosario, Argentina, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner returned to the United States last week to prepare for the upcoming Major League Soccer (MLS) season at Inter Miami’s training facilities.
The MLS season begins on February 22nd, with Inter Miami hosting Real Salt Lake on the opening day.
However, Messi and company will have a demanding pre-season program that starts on January 19 when Inter Miami travels to El Salvador to play the country’s national team at the Cuscatlán Stadium.
Following a brief trip to Saudi Arabia, where Inter Miami will play Al Hilal on January 29 and Al Nassr on February 1, fans may see a long-awaited reunion between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino’s team will also visit Hong Kong and Japan during the pre-season. They will meet a Hong Kong XI on February 4 and Vissel Kobe on February 7, before returning to Miami on February 15 to face Newell’s Old Boys.