The Herons fly out to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday evening for the next leg of their preseason tour and the ex-Barça quartet are taking it easy in training.
William GittinsWillGittUpdate: Jan 24th, 2024 11:34 EST
MEGAN BRIGGSAFP
Inter Miami’s globe-trotting preseason tour continues next week with two fixtures against Saudi Pro League sides.
On Wednesday evening the Herons fly out to Saudi Arabia ahead of games against Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr. Miami will then follow that up with fixtures in Hong Kong and Japan, before returning to the United States to continue preparations for the 2024 campaign.
Some have suggested that the busy schedule might take it’s toll on Miami’s experienced core but every effort will be made to protect Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, Luis Suárez and Jordi Alba. On Wednesday they trained away from the rest of the group, in what looked to be a more relaxed session.
🏃♂️🏃♂️🏃♂️🏃♂️ Los Cuatro Fantásticos Corren de Manera Diferenciada!Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba run separately from another group that is on a different field going through ball drills.Entire team isn’t training today.#InterMiamiCF #Messi𓃵 pic.twitter.com/pYnscb0dRn
— Franco Panizo (@FrancoPanizo) January 24, 2024
With fixtures coming up in quick succession, and “contractual obligations” to be fulfilled, the ex-Barcelona quartet are on a different training plan to the rest of the squad. Local reporter Franco Panizo confirms that they trained separately and that the whole squad was not at the practice.
Inter Miami vs Al Nassr in doubt
The Herons’ preseason schedule includes a friendly fixture against Al Nassr, the club of former Real Madrid star and Messi’s supposed nemesis Cristiano Ronaldo. For the local fans a meeting of two multi-Ballon d’Or winners would be a major draw, but an injury to the Al Nassr forward has put the whole thing in doubt.
On Tuesday it was confirmed that Ronaldo has sustained a calf injury that would have prevented him from playing in the team’s tour of China. With the Portuguese star sidelined, the Saudi club promptly postponed their scheduled friendly matches against Shanghai Shenhua and Zhejiang.
Club Statement about #AlNassrChinaTour2024 🇨🇳#利雅得胜利中国行 pic.twitter.com/QFnhiyV3py
— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) January 23, 2024
“I love this country. I love being here. I love being with you. I want to play for you. Please don’t be sad, because I am too. I apologise to all the fans, but I cannot play,” Ronaldo said in a statement.
