Will Lionel Messi play for Inter Miami in Leagues Cup opener? Club manager Tata Martino provides injury update
Inter Miami coach Tata Martino has stated that Lionel Messi is training indoors with a kinesiologist ahead of their Leagues Cup opener against Puebla on July 27. He added that although the Argentine's ankle looks better every day, he will not feature against Puebla.
Speaking to the media, Martino revealed that Messi is yet to return to regular training but is slowly getting there. He believes that the Argentine's mood has improved as his ankle gets better.
"Leo has been exclusively working indoors with the kinesiologist, he'll have some more days in the boot, and then we will see the timetable as to when he can return to training on the field," he said. "But his ankle is looking better every day. As for his mood, you can imagine how he feels knowing he can't play. The days pass and each day he is more eager to play, but you have to respect time and he has to heal properly."
Martino added:
"We assembled a deep roster knowing all the absences we would have between Copa America, Olympics and injuries, and we are in a good position. But we will not be at full strength until the end of August. We won't see our complete roster during Leagues Cup."
Lionel Messi got injured in the Copa America final against Colombia and left the pitch in tears in the 66th minute.
Inter Miami star comments on Lionel Messi's injury
Julian Gressel spoke on the Player/Manager podcast earlier this month and stated that Lionel Messi's injury looked bad. He added that the club were keeping the 37-year-old's progress a secret.
"It looked bad, and the way he's walking doesn't seem so great, but he's trying to protect it, that's why he's wearing the boot and trying to minimize the movement to heal those ligaments," Gressel said. "Honestly, I don't have a return date, I don't have much insight, it's being kept well hidden, even from us as teammates on what's actually going on. I want to look at it with a half-glass-full kind of mentality, so I hope he's back soon and not in a month or two and it will be quicker than that."
Lionel Messi has had to deal with several injury issues in the recent past. Inter Miami will hope their talisman can return soon to help them defend their Leagues Cup crown.