There they all were, sitting next to each other on a couple of benches in their practice attire, all of them smiling. Lionel Messi was sipping on a drink at one end, Luis Suárez next to him, then Sergio Busquets, then Jordi Alba on the other end. This wasn’t Barcelona in 2014.
This was Inter Miami on Saturday. It’s official: Messi, Busquets, Alba and Suárez are together again, this time in Major League Soccer. Preseason training for Inter Miami officially opened Saturday, with Suárez being seen in his new colors for the first time after signing a one-year deal last month to join the trio of his former teammates who arrived last summer.
“To come help a team that has well-known players that everyone knows and (adjust) to the other players and what is a new club and do what the club wants — which is to attempt to win an MLS Cup and do it with professionalism — is what is wanted of me,” Suárez said.
Suárez and Messi spent six seasons together at Barcelona, winning four Spanish league titles and nine other trophies — including a Champions League title — in that span.
Suárez is coming off a year where he was best player and best striker in the Brazilian league with Gremio, but has ailing knees, is turning 37 in a couple weeks and is entering his 19th professional season.
Coming to MLS, though, doesn’t sound like his soft landing into retirement. He made it very clear on Saturday: He’s with Inter Miami to win. The team will try to defend its Leagues Cup trophy this season, plus has an MLS title to chase, along with the CONCACAF Champions Cup and the U.S. Open Cup.(HT)