Inter Miami have copied Barcelona’s ‘Lionel Messi rule’ when training.
Messi joined MLS side Inter Miami this summer following his release from Paris Saint-Germain, and in the three months since his arrival the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner has claimed 11 goals in 14 games.
The Argentine, who marked his debut for the club with an injury-time free-kick winner, also led Miami to their first-ever trophy, the Leagues Cup.
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Nevertheless, Messi’s influence still could not propel the club to an MLS Cup play-off spot, as Miami finished 14th in the Eastern Conference.
With the MLS season having come to a close from Maimi’s perspective, midfielder Edison Azcona reflected on how he has found sharing a dressing room alongside Messi.
The 19–year–old midfielder has explained how he and his fellow Miami teammates make sure to avoid injuring Messi during training.
Speaking to Infobae, Azcona said: “Everyone understands that we are not going to try to hurt [Messi]. One tries to defend, but they are a little more careful.
“We don't let him play in the games we play among ourselves, we defend him, but with caution. Nobody gets into it very hard.”
Barcelona, where Messi scored some 672 goals in 778 games and firmly entrenched himself among the game's greats, had a similar rule.
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Nice and France’s Jean-Claire Todibo, who played five times for the Catalan giants, was one of those players who had to follow the directive in training.
Todibo told German publication Bild during his loan spell with Schalke, as per Marca: "We all knew that he couldn't get injured.
"Messi was defended very carefully in training. I learned a lot from Messi and I even tackled him a few times, but I was careful not to hurt him."
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Topics: Football, Lionel Messi, Inter Miami, Barcelona
Chris Byfield