Why did Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami turn down the chance to play Barcelona in a friendly match?

Argentina captain Messi could have come up against his former club in the summer of 2024, only for The Herons to refuse.

Diego GorostietaDiegsGorostietaRoddy ConsRoddyConsEstados UnidosUpdate: Jan 13th, 2024 12:10 EST

MEGAN BRIGGSAFP

Lionel Messi’s much anticipated reunion with Barcelona looks set to go on a little longer, despite the summer of 2024 appearing to be the perfect opportunity for the Inter Miami playmaker to come face to face with his former club for the first time.

According to Catalan sports daily Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona plan to head to the United States for a pre-season tour ahead of the 2024-25 LaLiga campaign and had hoped to arrange a friendly against The Herons, who have former Blaugrana stars Luis Suárez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets on their roster, in addition to Messi.

The reason Inter Miami turned down Barça friendly

However, Inter Miami have ruled out taking on Barça – at least at that time of the year – as they anticipate having a busy fixture schedule when the LaLiga giants are stateside.

🚨🚨| Barcelona have offered Inter Miami a friendly match, to be played next summer during their next tour of the United States. Inter Miami have declined Barça's proposal since they will prepare for the League Cup on these dates. ❌[@mundodeportivo] pic.twitter.com/r1Vp88DsJk

— CentreGoals. (@centregoals) January 13, 2024

The wait to see Messi and Barcelona, his one true love, in soccer terms, reunited will therefore continue, with only a slim chance of there being space on the calendar further down the line in 2024.

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