Tata Martino has revealed that Inter Miami could struggle to replace Lionel Messi when the attacker is away on international duty this season.
The Argentine captain is likely to depart Florida next month for international friendlies with Messi also expected to participate in this summer’s Copa America, based in the United States.
With MLS not following FIFA’s international schedule, regular season matches will be taking place during these time periods, meaning Inter Miami will be without their star player for quite some matches.
And speaking to AS, Martino admitted that Inter Miami will struggle to replace Messi if the attacker is gone for too long, with the Herons a different side with or without the reigning Ballon d’Or holder.
Martino said on Messi’s future departures: “We can’t bring in all the players we want. We know that in March we have to replace Messi and we know that in June-July for friendlies and Copa America.
“The thing is that we don’t have freedom of recruitment. We must have one or a few players that will allow us to have some attacking options when he is not playing.”
Inter Miami need to discover how to play without Lionel Messi
It would be something of an understatement to say that Inter Miami are a much better side when Messi is on the pitch and not worried about injuring himself.
The Argentine international is one of the best players on the planet and a figure who can lift the spirits of others just by entering the field and getting involved in the action.
Yet Messi is going to miss big parts of the MLS season, and Inter Miami have to get to work on creating a plan to get results when the Argentine isn’t in Florida to save the day.
The tools are there in the new-look squad and in Martino, who is arguably one of the best managers in MLS and a coach who has the smarts to build a team without Messi that can compete this season.
