Lionel Messi’s Potential Loan Departure from Inter Miami Raises Questions

Reports have recently surfaced suggesting that Lionel Messi could potentially leave Inter Miami on loan in January. This topic has sparked conversations and speculations about Messi’s future in the MLS club. Despite the rumors, Messi has expressed his intention to play in the final match of Inter Miami’s season on Saturday, although the club is yet to confirm his participation.

Messi, who showcased his brilliance by scoring both goals for Argentina in their 2-0 World Cup qualifying win against Peru on Tuesday night, was notably absent from Inter Miami’s lineup in their final home game against Charlotte FC, which ended in a 2-2 draw on Wednesday night. However, Messi was present in the Inter Miami bench area, dressed casually in a white T-shirt, after returning from Peru earlier in the day.

In Peru, Messi told reporters that he wants to play one more game for Inter Miami before his inaugural MLS season concludes. This implies that he plans to feature in the away fixture against Charlotte FC on Saturday, despite the match being played on artificial turf.

“I’ll play the game that is left now,” Messi stated confidently.

In Wednesday’s match, Charlotte FC squandered two one-goal leads, preventing them from climbing from 12th to eighth in the Eastern Conference. The top nine teams in each conference qualify for the playoffs. Enzo Copetti and Kerwin Vargas scored for Charlotte FC, while Nicolás Stefanelli and Robbie Robinson netted for Inter Miami. Although Inter Miami has been eliminated from playoff contention earlier this month, they still have the potential to thwart Charlotte FC’s hopes of reaching the postseason with a victory on Saturday, depending on other results on Decision Day in MLS.

Coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino previously mentioned that there was “a chance” Messi could play on Saturday and that the team would assess his physical condition upon his return to Miami after the qualifying games with Argentina. Martino reiterated this approach after Wednesday’s match but did not fully confirm Messi’s participation.

“Tomorrow we’ll talk with him, but the most important thing here is the 90 minutes that were played… that he felt well and he was confident and not worried about his injury,” Martino explained.

He continued, “We’ll talk again to see if he’s ready to play again.”

The anticipation of Messi potentially playing has resulted in a surge in ticket sales for Saturday’s match, with Charlotte FC reportedly selling over 60,000 tickets in their 74,000-seat stadium, according to The Charlotte Observer.

As the final moments of Inter Miami’s season approach, the question remains as to whether Messi will indeed be on the pitch for his team’s last game, leaving fans and commentators eagerly awaiting an official confirmation from the club.