Gerardo Martino provides Lionel Messi injury update ahead of the upcoming MLS season

Inter Miami manager Gerardo Martino has provided a Lionel Messi injury update after he was subbed off in their friendly against Newell’s Old Boys on Thursday, February 15.

Messi has had a few injury scares in recent times. He missed one and barely featured in a couple more friendlies that Inter Miami played ahead of the new MLS season. He returned to the starting XI in their seventh and final friendly against his former club Newell’s Old Boys and played 60 minutes.

After the game, the Herons manager Gerardo Martino was asked whether Messi will be fit for their first MLS game of the season on February 21. He replied, as per Sports Illustrated:

“Our plan was for Leo to play 45 to 60 minutes and he played almost 60 and felt good.

“The way he was playing, the way he accelerated, it looked like he is fully recovered. The idea is for him to be ready for the 21st.”

The match against Newell’s Old Boys, meanwhile, ended in a 1-1 draw. Shanyder Borgelin (64’) and Franco Martin Diaz (83’) scored for their respective sides.

The draw meant that Inter Miami have won just one of their seven friendly games ahead of the new MLS season. They drew two and lost four of those, with the only win coming against Hong Kong XI.

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The Herons will begin their MLS campaign against Real Salt Lake at home on Wednesday, February 21. They will hope to make it to the playoffs this time around, having failed to do so last season.

Inter Miami have also added Luis Suarez to their ranks, who has previously played with Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba at Barcelona.