Lionel Messi to make Inter Miami debut on Friday, Jordi Alba set to sign – Jorge Mas

July 18, 2023 Admin

Inter Miami are set to confirm the signing of Jordi Alba, while Lionel Messi will make his debut for the MLS club on Friday, owner Jorge Mas has said.

Alba is currently a free agent after leaving Barcelona this summer after more than a decade with the club.

The 34-year-old has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia but Mas said that he was set to link up with former Barca team-mate Messi.

“Jordi Alba will sign today. Messi will debut on Friday,” Mas told reporters on Tuesday.

Messi took part in his first training session in Fort Lauderdale on Tuesday, alongside another ex-Barcelona colleague and new team-mate in Sergio Busquets.

Messi and Busquets lead the way during Inter Miami training (Photo: Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

He was pictured smiling as he took part in a series of drills in front of a watching media crowd.

The World Cup winner, who has signed a two-year deal with the option of staying in 2026, is set to make his highly-anticipated debut in the Leagues Cup — a new competition involving every team in MLS and Mexico’s Liga MX — against Cruz Azul.

GO DEEPER

Lionel Messi to Inter Miami: The key questions answered

Mas has admitted that Inter Miami could make a move for another former Barcelona star in Luis Suarez but said no talks had yet been held.

Suarez’s current deal with Gremio runs until 2024.

“Luis Suarez is a Gremio player,” Mas said. “He has a contract. We understand the close relationship that he has with Lionel, Busquets and Alba. They played together at Barcelona. There’s been a lot of talk about Luis Suarez coming to Inter Miami. We haven’t held direct talks with Gremio or with Suarez.

“I don’t know how Luis Suarez can leave Gremio. But if he does we are free to talk to Luis and bring him to Inter Miami. That possibility would be there.”