MLS
Could Inter Miami copy Argentina to get the best out of Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez in MLS?
The arrival of former Barcelona striker Suárez could see Messi perform an attacking role similar to the one he plays with La Albiceleste.
Towards the end of 2023, Inter Miami head coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino set his team up in a 4-3-3 formation, which had a balanced midfield and a forward line that included players with the ability to interchange, and create space and passing options for teammates, above all Lionel Messi.
How Suárez will affect Inter Miami and Messi
In the off-season, The Herons have signed Luis Súarez, an out-an-out centre forward, who is capable of playing slightly different roles. We can only assume, though, that he has arrived in Florida to fire the bullets that will be handed to him by Messi, whose position as creator-in-chief will be further enhanced.
The new-look attack raises the question of whether Martino and his backroom staff are planning on changing system to get the best out of the South American duo, who teamed up to devastating effect at Barcelona between 2014 and 2020. With plenty of young talent also on the Inter Miami roster, there appears to be scope for tactical flexibility, which should help maximise the team’s attacking potential.
Messi’s role change with Argentina
Although Messi has spent much of his career playing in a front three, he has also become used to lining up alongside just one central striker in more recent times. In Argentina’s World Cup winning team, no less, the 36-year-old generally starts playing off either Julián Álvarez or Lautaro Martínez.
Could Las Garzas use the same system to allow Messi and Suárez to flourish? Martino may see it as a way to free them of defensive responsibility and focus on doing what they do best, and could offset it by including strong runners elsewhere, as Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni does with the likes of Alexis Mac Allister and Ángel Di María.
Inter Miami get preseason underway in El Salvador
With the players having completed medical tests upon their returns to training, the team is now on its way to El Salvador for its first game of preseason, which will last until 15 February. Messi, Suárez and Co have a gruelling fixture schedule coming up, with matches in the United States, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong and Japan before the MLS 2024 season gets underway on 22 February.
As it stands, Martino will have seven warm-up games to find his best starting lineup, although we shouldn’t rule out further additions to a roster that is already brimming with talent.
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