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<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><ul><li>MLS outfit preparing for 2024 campaign</li><li>Have a series of friendlies to take in</li><li>Argentine icon will figure in some of those</li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

Good news for Lionel Messi fans! Why Inter Miami must field ‘best players’ in certain games – with El Salvador, Newell’s Old Boys & Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr on immediate agenda

Saudi Pro League

Al Riyadh

Al Nassr FC

Major League Soccer

Vancouver Whitecaps

Inter Miami CF

<p>The Florida-based outfit are in the process of readying themselves for <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/mls-watch-out-inter-miami-lionel-messi-win-everything-2024-crazy-eighth-ballon-d-or/blt8adde7fc64f6ebb3 " target="_blank">the 2024 MLS season</a>. More moves have been made in the transfer market, with <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/how-many-goals-luis-suarez-alongside-lionel-messi-mls-sergio-busquets-inter-miami-superstar-scoring-streak/blt262c91a6cd995715" target="_blank">experienced striker Luis Suarez added to their collection</a> of ex-Barcelona legends, while <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/another-link-man-lionel-messi-usmnt-star-two-time-mls-cup-winner-julian-gressel-joins-inter-miami/blt90c8aae5762dbf49" target="_blank">USMNT star Julian Gressel has also been acquired as a free agent</a>.</p><div class="affiliate-button-container theme-1" data-name="Apple TV"><div class="affiliate-button"><img class="logo" height="40" width="72" src="https://eu-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/bltcc7a7ffd2fbf71f5/bltde9ec6adb03b3414/64da04236ee63ef30ba519c5/Apple_TV_logo.jpg" style="width: 72px; height: 40px;"><span class="affiliate-text">Get your MLS Season Pass today!</span></div><a href="https://tv.apple.com/channel/tvs.sbd.7000?itsct=goal_mls&amp;itscg=30200&amp;at=1010l39UY" class="affiliate-button-link" target="_blank">Watch now</a></div>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>Martino is now piecing together plans for a series of friendly dates, with <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/inter-miami-tickets-selling-600-no-lionel-messi-guarantees-hong-kong-friendly-organisers-warning-excited-fans/bltf61589bdc0d62e15" target="_blank">supporters hoping to catch a glimpse of Messi in action</a> told that he will have to figure, if fit, in some of those games. Inter Miami’s Argentine head coach has said: “The idea is for this pre-season to begin with the entire squad. Afterwards we will see how they are physically, if they will be there or not. But we understand that the contractual part requires the presence of our best players.”</p>

WHAT MARTINO SAID

<p>Inter Miami are due to face El Salvador, FC Dallas, Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr, a Hong Kong Select XI, Vissel Kobe and <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/lionel-messi-newells-old-boys-date-revealed-inter-miami-superstar-reunion-childhood-club/blt5e93e322020f3d4c" target="_blank">Newell’s Old Boys in a stacked pre-season schedule</a>. Martino added on managing that workload: “We understand the business and sporting sides and the good thing is that we try for both sides to occur and happen without exceeding on one end or the other. If we do have more games, then what we have to do is balance how much each player participates in each one of them. When it comes to the trips to Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, Japan, those have been well organized because it's been worked on since the end of last year. We're not concerned about the number of games.”</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Messi will be <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/last-dance-date-set-lionel-messi-vs-cristiano-ronaldo-inter-miami-al-nassr-al-hilal-pre-season-tournament-saudi-arabia/blt166812e32836604c" target="_blank">lining up against eternal rival Cristiano Ronaldo when facing Al-Nassr</a> in the Riyadh Cup on February 1, with that fixture generating plenty of interest. Inter Miami are then due to start the new MLS season at home to Real Salt Lake on February 21.</p>

WHAT NEXT FOR MESSI & INTER MIAMI?

Good news for Lionel Messi fans! Why Inter Miami must field ‘best players’ in certain games – with El Salvador, Newell’s Old Boys & Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr on immediate agenda | Goal.com

Inter Miami are contractually obliged to field their “best players” in certain games, says Tata Martino, which is good news for Lionel Messi fans.

Good news for Lionel Messi fans! Why Inter Miami must field ‘best players’ in certain games – with El Salvador, Newell’s Old Boys &amp; Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr on immediate agenda

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