Miami: Lionel Messi is set to make his Inter Miami debut against Mexico’s Cruz Azul on Friday, but the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner may be limited to a role on the bench.

The Argentine arrived in South Florida last week on a wave of enthusiasm and introduced the fans at a special stadium event on Sunday.

But since the initial uproar, when club owner Jorge Mas called him “America’s number 10” and promised the move would “change the soccer landscape” in the US, there has been a noticeable change in tone.

Messi only started training in earnest this week after spending time with his family on vacation, and the opening match of the new League Cup – which brings MLS and Liga MX teams together in a tournament format – could come too soon for the World Cup champion to start.

Co-owner David Beckham said on Tuesday that Messi would play “part of the game” and coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino, Messi’s compatriot and former Barcelona coach, suggested he might start on the bench.

At the pre-match press conference, which moved to the Performing Arts Center downtown in Fort Lauderdale due to the high media interest, Martino said they would make a decision on how to use Messi after training on Friday.

“It’s very hard for people not to have expectations, but it can take time,” Martino said.

Spanish midfielder Sergio Busquets, Messi’s former teammate from their glory days with Barcelona, ​​certainly doesn’t feel ready yet for a full game in what will also be his debut.

“I need time to adapt. It will be practically impossible for me to play 90 minutes tomorrow.

The fact that fans paid nearly $250 for tickets to what has long been described as Messi’s debut means it is almost certain he will take the field at some point.

Veteran Cruz Azul coach, Brazilian-born Ricardo Ferretti, laughed when asked if his team expected to face Messi.

“If he didn’t play… that would be better. But, they also have to think of something, why are there so many people here? Because of him, right?” said the 69-year-old.

But Ferretti, known as “Tuca” throughout his coaching career in Mexico, was a bit annoyed that the match between the two teams was seen as just the beginning of one player.

“We will not face one player. He does not win or lose alone. Football is a team sport. There are outstanding players and they deserve focus, and I agree with that.”

He added, “There are two institutions here – Cruz Azul is a historic team, one of the greats of Mexican football and Inter Miami is an important team in MLS.”

Inter Miami players who haven’t made the headlines in recent days have had a strange week with more than 200 media outlets filming their training session on Tuesday.

But DeAndre Yedlin, the US international who played in the Premier League for Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United, said Messi quickly entered the dressing room.

“He’s a great fellow. For his (presentation) event on Sunday (striker Leonardo) Campana was looking for tickets and so he put him in the group chat, I didn’t even know Messi was in the group chat yet but he immediately showed up and said ‘how much Leo do you need?'”

“Right off the bat like that,” he said, “they’ve known each other like two or three days but just to show that generosity is a great first example of his condition.”

Martino said Messi looks happy in training and has noticed that he looks more relaxed after finally winning the World Cup with his country.

“Leo doesn’t have a huge backpack on him, and he took it off seven months ago. I think we’re in a great moment,” said the coach.

Busquets, who was joined by his former Barcelona teammate, defender Jordi Alba, who signed for the club on Thursday, said it was great to meet Messi.

“I’m so happy to have Leo as a teammate again, we’ve parted ways but time gives us the chance to get back together, he’s a great guy.

“We’re looking forward to playing with the best player in football history, I’m very happy with everything, and I hope we can transfer what we’ve done now to Inter Miami.”