Ex-Barcelona teammate issues stern warning to Lionel Messi ahead of his Miami debut: “Resting well is very difficult”

Lionel Messi gave the world a shocker when he announced his move to Inter Miami. With his future quickly up in the air after he decided not to renew his contract with Paris Saint-Germain, the Argentine star had suitors lining up for his signature, and how David Beckham and Co. managed to convince him to choose their club remains a mystery.

The MLS has seen a surge in attention since Messi’s move to Miami was announced. Having one of the best players of all time in their books will also work wonders on global markets, as the 2022 World Cup winning captain certainly is one of the most marketable players in the world. The Messi effect is evident as Inter Miami’s Instagram followers have grown from 1 million to 5.7 million in less than a month.

His unveiling and his debut later this month will definitely gain attraction from the global football fanbase. However, the 36-year-old has been told by his former teammate that the MLS may not be as easy as he may have initially thought.

Riqui Puig Warns Lionel Messi on Tiresome Travel Before his MLS Debut

The MLS has become one of the fastest-growing leagues in world football, and Lionel Messi’s announcement has only boosted it further. The former Barcelona player will be locking horns with his former teammate Riqui Puig, who plays for LA Galaxy.

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Puig quickly pointed out the cons of playing in the MLS to his friend as he spoke to AS about two of his former teammates. “I think it is a great league with a great future. Now that Leo and Busquets have arrived, I think they can give a lot to this league, and the league can give them a lot,” the LA Galaxy midfielder declares.

Going on to talk about the pros and cons of the league, Puig said, “What I like the most is that there is a high level in this league because all the teams can beat anyone, and it is a league where there is a lot of competition.” He also went ahead to warn Lionel Messi of the tiresome travel. “The thing I dislike is the trips and time changes. I think that for a player sometimes, resting well is very difficult,” the midfielder concluded.

Riqui Puig to Play on Wayne Rooney’s MLS All-Stars in friendly vs. Arsenal

Wayne Rooney will lead his MLS All-Stars against Arsenal in a friendly match on July 19th. This is part of Arsenal’s pre-season tour in the United States, where they’ll prepare for the new season. The match will take place at the Audi Field in Washington D.C.

Players from several teams across the MLS have been invited to participate in the friendly match. The squad will be chosen by a combination of fan votes, nominations from the coach of the opposition and picks from the league commissioner. MLS stars Riqui Puig, Christian Benteke, Jesus Ferreira, Thiago Almada, Hector Herrera, and Jon Gallagher are expected to be part of the 26-man All-Stars team.