Look for Lionel Messi to play in Wednesday's friendly in Tokyo between Inter Miami and Japanese club Vissel Kobe.
And don't look for another PR disaster like what happened on Sunday when Argentina's World Cup-winning captain sat on the bench for the entire match against a team of Hong Kong league players, angering thousands of fans. who demanded refunds.
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His teammate Luis Suárez, another big name at the club, also remained on the bench.
Messi, who has rarely spoken to the media in an open setting since moving to Inter Miami in July, appeared at a news conference at a five-star hotel in Tokyo on Tuesday. He sat alone on a stool on stage, wearing a pink jacket, and showed a bit of humility.
He was surely under pressure from local Japanese sponsors, including Vissel Kobe, where his former Barcelona teammate Andrés Iniesta became a favorite of the Japanese public before leaving last year.
“The truth is that I feel very good compared to a few days ago,” Messi said, speaking in Spanish. “And depending on how that [training] goes. And if I'm honest, I still don't know if I can or not. But I feel much better and I'm looking forward to doing it.”
Messi tried to explain the situation to Hong Kong fans, saying it was impossible for him to play with a groin injury. Some suggested that he could have simply jogged for a few minutes, which might have satisfied fans in a game that is largely meaningless except for its promotional value.
“The truth is that it was bad luck that I couldn't [play] “On the day of the Hong Kong match,” Messi said, adding that “the discomfort continued and it was very difficult for me to play.”
“Unfortunately, in football, in any game things can happen that can injure us,” he added. “It's a shame because I always want to participate, I want to be there, and even more so when it comes to these games when we travel so far and people are very excited to watch our games.”
Inter Miami's world tour has been disappointing as the club tries to build a brand using veteran players like Messi and Suarez. In five games from El Salvador to Dallas, Saudi Arabia and Hong Kong, Inter Miami has won just once and been outscored 12-7.
The Asian tour concludes Wednesday at Tokyo National Stadium, the $1.4 billion venue built for the Tokyo Olympics that were held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mark Conrad, a professor of sports law, ethics and business at Fordham University's Gabelli School of Business, reminded fans that a ticket is for one game and does not guarantee a player's participation.
“While it may be true that many fans bought tickets in the hope of seeing Messi, the ticket is to see the game, not a specific player, unless there is a condition that says otherwise,” Conrad told The Associated Press. .
“Although it is likely that the price and interest were largely due to Messi's involvement, his inability to play does not generally constitute a breach of contract.”
Messi said he hoped to visit Hong Kong again and play this time.
“I hope we can come back and we can play another game and I can be there,” he said. “As I do whenever I can. But the truth is that it is a shame that I could not participate.”
