Revealed: China fury at Lionel Messi stems from organisers finding out '15 minutes before' kick-off that Inter Miami superstar wouldn't play against Hong Kong XI

Thousands of supporters flocked to see the World Cup-winning Argentine train with Miami ahead of a much-anticipated friendly clash, but fans across the Asian country were let down when Messi eventually pulled out due to a reported injury. Michel Lamuniere, chairman and chief executive of promoters Tatler Asia, has revealed that this decision was kept from organisers until the last minute.

Speaking in an interview with The Athletic, Lamuniere explained that he only found out Messi wouldn't be playing "15 minutes before the start" of the game. He added: “The rest of the first half was spent trying to find solutions for Messi to play, talking, and moving around the pitch. [The event] was perfectly organised except for the lack of visibility regarding Messi’s injury, of which we had no idea”.

The unprecedented pre-season schedule was seen as a way of widening Miami's appeal to key markets in the Middle East and Asia, capitalising on Messi's first tour with the Florida-based club. However, that soon turned into a PR disaster, with Saudi fans also disappointed that a 'Last Dance' against Cristiano Ronaldo could never go ahead. They were appeased by a second-half cameo from Messi but those in Hong Kong were afforded no such luxury, with the Argentine and his home country publicly denigrated as a result.

Miami's tumultuous pre-season ends with a romantic reunion for Messi with boyhood club Newell's Old Boys later on Thursday. The MLS season proper begins in a week's time, with their league opener coming at home to Real Salt Lake.