Martino says Messi “won’t be available” for Inter Miami’s game against DC United

The Inter Miami coach spoke after the game against Nashville where he opened up on the World Cup winner’s fitness.

Luis Guillermo Vázquezluis_lgazulUpdate: Mar 14th, 2024 02:27 EDT0

CRISTOBAL HERRERA-ULASHKEVICHEFE

Messi is set to miss the Inter Miami’s game against DC United on Saturday, March 16, according to Tata Martino, who spoke following the 3-1 victory in the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16.

The Qatar 2022 World Cup winner left the field after 50 minutes and was replaced by Robert Taylor, a move which set off alarm bells for the fans in the stands of Chase Stadium.

The chase for the cup continues 🏆⏳#MIAvNSH pic.twitter.com/7l1hV3XiA7

— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) March 14, 2024

Martino ‘didn’t want to take any risks’ with Messi

“He has an overload in his right hamstring, so we didn’t want to take any risks. We tried to play a bit more, but it was bothering him, so we decided to make the change,” Martino told a press conference.

Despite Messi’s desire to play every game possible this season, Martino revealed at the end of the tie against Nashville that “he won’t be ready for Saturday’s game”.

Given this revelation, Messi looks set to miss his second game of the 2024 MLS season, since he was not called up for Sunday’s match against Montreal and watched from the stands.

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Los Herons podrían disputar hasta un total de ocho partidos en un lapso menor a 30 días con los calendarios de MLS y Concacaf Champions Cup.CHRIS ARJOONAFP

Martino knows that he must start thinking about a plan to play without Messi, something which did not work out on Sunday when The Herons lost to CF Montréal.