“Looks like he belongs in a wheelchair” - When ex-Premier League chief slammed Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez for MLS transfer
Former Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan once slammed Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez for moving to Major League Soccer (MLS) in the USA. While Messi moved to Inter Miami in the summer of 2023 after leaving Paris Saint-Germain, Suarez arrived in Florida in January 2024.
Jordan's scathing criticism of both Messi and Suarez was due to the lack of competition that the MLS apparently has. According to Inter Miami News, he expressed his disappointment on seeing the Argentine in the league. Jordan felt that Messi was excellent as always, but the others struggled to pass the ball to him.
The businessman even said that the MLS' standard is only as good as the EFL League Two. As for Suarez, Jordan did not hold back at all, and said that the Uruguayan 'belongs in a wheelchair.'
“Messi is a wonder on the field, but they can’t pass the ball to him because they aren’t good enough. Suarez looks like he belongs in a wheelchair. The quality of football [in MLS] is [English] League Two, League One at the very best. It disappointed me to see Messi in that space,” Jordan had said back in June.
Lionel Messi won his 46th title with Inter Miami last month
Although the standard of the MLS has been criticized by a lot of pundits across the globe, it has to be said that Messi has become its major attraction. The Argentine won his 46th career title in October when Inter Miami lifted the MLS Supporters' Shield by beating Columbus Crew 3-2.
Inter Miami finished the regular season at the top of the Eastern Conference of the MLS with a league-record 74 points in 34 matches. They won an astonishing number of 22 games, drawing eight and losing just four. The 20 goals that Messi has scored in the MLS this season played a big role in Inter Miami qualifying for the playoffs.
In their first match of the playoffs, against Atlanta United, Messi's side won 2-1 but were defeated by their opponents by the same scoreline in the second leg. Messi could not get on the scoresheet in either match.
The decisive Game 3 of the playoffs will be held on Saturday, November 9. The winner will advance to the semifinals against the winner of Orlando City vs Charlotte, who too are locked at 1-1.