What Gerardo Martino has said about Inter Miami adding Luis Suárez to Messi, Busquets, Alba...
With the current season effectively over for the Florida franchise, thoughts now turn to MLS 2024 and potentially another global star joining.
With any possibility of securing a playoff spot out of reach, Inter Miami’s 2023 MLS season is coming to a rather tame close, after what has been a quite incredible few months. The team returned to regular training on Tuesday for their penultimate match of the season against Charlotte FC, which will mark the final game of the season at the DRV PNK Stadium.
Inter Miami making plans for possible Luis Suárez arrival
Before Tuesday’s session, the Herons’ head coach, Gerardo “Tata” Martino, held a brief mixed zone with the media in attendance. Apart from discussing the upcoming match, he spoke about what lies ahead for Inter Miami in 2024, particularly in terms of potential new additions to the club, including a certain Uruguayan forward by the name of Luis Suárez.
True to form, Martino addressed the topic without going into too many details but, in a way, left the door open for the Uruguyan. Suárez, who would be departing from Gremio, could be reunited with his close friend Lionel Messi in this new chapter of their football careers in the United States. The boss wants more details before anything is confirmed.
🗣️ I asked Tata Martino whether Inter Miami would look to sign Luis Suarez this winter if he becomes free.
— Franco Panizo (@FrancoPanizo) October 17, 2023
“Looking into our analysis for next year and needs we may have, we have a scenario with Luis & without Luis.
“If he officially is free, we’ll take path that corresponds.”… pic.twitter.com/X2qScWq8RU
“Officially, no one has informed us of anything. Within our analysis of the upcoming season and the potential needs we might have, we have an analysis with Luis and an analysis without Luis. So when the situation with Suárez and Inter Miami is officially confirmed, we will be prepared to take the appropriate steps,” he explained carefully.
Martino leaves Messi doubt for MLS run-in
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Regarding the final couple of league games, Tata stated that once Messi and his fellow international players report back to the club after the FIFA break - of course, the little genius scored - they will assess whether they will participate in Saturday’s match against Charlotte. He hinted, given there is nothing to play for, that he wouldn’t take any risks with his players, especially with his star.
It sounds like Lionel Messi’s first MLS season with Inter Miami is all but over.
— Franco Panizo (@FrancoPanizo) October 17, 2023
Martino said Messi and all returning international players would be evaluated on Thursday, but that team would also not take any risks since there are no playoff chances.#InterMiamiCF #Messi𓃵 pic.twitter.com/agsvGSP9L0
“We will evaluate not only Leo but all the players with their national teams when they arrive here on Thursday,” he said. “We also have to consider that we are out of any playoff possibilities, so we have to determine what is most convenient to avoid any risks.”