The match that Lionel Messi's Inter Miami will play this Wednesday
at
the
National Stadium in Tokyo
against Vissel Kobe
has a lot of excuse and preparation.
In truth, one of the most important images that was waiting to be portrayed was the reunion of
Andrés Iniesta
and La Pulga, who were fundamental stones of the golden Barcelona that dominated world football for so many years.
It is not yet
known if Messi will be able to play
the game from the start because the captain of the world champion team suffers
from discomfort in his adductor
that left him out of the game with
Hong Kong
and caused disapproval from the fans, forcing the local government intervention.
"Vissel Kobe is a club that we have known since the arrival of Andrés, of which I have followed results or news through him. It is the last champion of the League and we will surely face a great team
," Messi summarized about the knowledge he has of his team. next rival.
Iniesta, in addition to Messi,
was reunited with other Barcelona teammates such as Sergio Busquets, Luis Suárez and Jordi Alba
.
The
"Brain"
in the Japanese team played from 2018 to July 2023.
He scored 26 goals and 26 assists in 135 games
and won the
Emperor Cup
,
the Japan Super Cup
and the
J1 League.
Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba, Andrés Iniesta, Sergio Busquets and Luis Suárez, during the reunion in Japan.
Currently,
the Spanish midfielder plays
for
the Emirates Club in the United Arab Emirates, where he already has two goals and one assist in 10 games
.
The reason why he left the Japanese team was because
he no longer had as many minutes
.
Inter will seek
to add another victory before returning to Miami
.
The balance of the preseason - which began in the United States and continues in Asia - is negative,
of the five friendlies they played they only won one against Hong Kong by 4 to 1,
while then
they had three defeats and a draw
.
Inter Miami 's last friendly
will be against Newell's Old Boys
on February 15 at
DRV PNK in Miami
.
Then they will debut on the
21st against Real Salt Lake
on the first date of
the MLS
.
Last season
Inter Miami won the Leagues Cup
, but was left out of the Playoff for the title.
Touched down in Tokyo 📌 pic.twitter.com/AZyV4njF9t
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) February 5, 2024
Barcelona's golden generation
Iniesta, Busquets and Messi
together won 18 local titles and 9 international titles
, among which
the Champions League of 2009
,
2011
and
2015
stand out .
With
"Busi"
he managed to lift Spain's only
World Cup in South Africa 2010
.
Lionel Messi celebrates a goal with Iniesta.
Photo: AFP
The reunion of these
glories of Barcelona
brings a smile, not only to the
"cules"
, but also to all
the football lovers
who were delirious with the
Messi-Iniesta
partnership .