Andres Iniesta has caught up with former Barcelona team-mates Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets.
Inter Miami on pre-season tourCome up against Vissel KobeIniesta reunites with former team-matesWHAT HAPPENED?
Lionel Messi has been reunited with another former Barcelona team-mate on Inter Miami's 2024 pre-season tour. The World Cup winner, who has already seen Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets join him at the MLS side, has now caught up with Iniesta. The former midfielder was in Japan to see his former side Vissel Kobe face Inter Miami in a friendly, allowing the old Barca team-mates the chance to be reunited once again.
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Inter Miami's tour has so far been marred in controversy and drawn anger from fans, largely due to Messi's lack of game time. The Argentine only played the final few minutes in the 6-0 defeat to Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr due to injury and did not feature at all against a Hong Kong XI. Messi has insisted he wanted to play and only "bad luck" on the injury front kept him out, with Miami boss Tata Martino also leaving him out of the starting XI for the Vissel Kobe clash. Messi did appear as a second-half substitute in a 0-0 draw. The game then went to penalties with Messi opting against taking a spot-kick as Iniesta's old team triumphed 4-3 in the shoot-out.
(C)Getty ImagesDID YOU KNOW?
Vissel Kobe won the J-League for the first time in the history in November 2023. Unfortunately for Iniesta, the title came five months after his departure from the club.
Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR MESSI AND INTER MIAMI
Inter Miami will head back to the United States after their friendly with Vissel Kobe. Tata Martino's side play a final pre-season game against Newell's Old Boys before kicking off their new MLS campaign against Real Salt Lake on February 21.