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Lionel Messi's tour of China has been an absolute shambles and he hasn't even set off yet

Home> Football> MLS

Published 13:12 28 Oct 2023 GMT+1

Lionel Messi's tour of China has been an absolute shambles and he hasn't even set off yet

Inter Miami and Lionel Messi have had to encounter several obstacles in planning their post-season tour of China.

Joshua Nair

Joshua Nair

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami are set to tour China in November following the close of the MLS regular season just last week.

Football fans in Asia were over the moon to learn that World Cup winner Lionel Messi was due to pay the Far East a visit shortly after the Ballon d'Or ceremony on October 30th, where the Argentinian is all but set for a record eighth triumph.

Inter Miami were set to play two Chinese Super League sides in Qingdao Hainiu and Chengdu Rongcheng in the space of four days, though the latter has been cancelled with "various reasons" being cited by organisers for the last minute alteration.

The MLS outfit are still pencilled in to take on Qingdao though, but the venue of the game has been moved as the tinkering of the side's tour continues.

Due to take place at the 50,000 capacity Qingdao Youth Football Stadium, it will now be hosted at the 41,500 capacity Wuyuan River Stadium in Haikou.

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There have also been several contradictory statements from planners as to when tickets will go on sale, as there is now only one game for fans to attend.

Lionel Messi did not have a great end to this MLS season with his side. (
Getty)

Several of the fans who were excited to see their idol play have been quick to share their annoyance and disappointment on social media, as in the past few days excitement and happiness have become frustration and irritation.

The tour is still set to proceed, with the sole game in China taking place on the fifth of November barring any other last minute changes.

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Messi did not enjoy a successful ending to the season with Inter Miami, finishing second bottom of the Eastern conference, nine points off a final series play-off place.

Inter Miami did manage to win the Leagues Cup in August though, with the Argentinian playing a key part in that cup run with 10 goals and one assist in seven games, securing the side's first ever piece of silverware.

Fans will hope that Messi can display some of that form when he plays against Qingdao Hainiu.

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Featured Image Credit: Getty Images

Topics: Inter Miami, Lionel Messi, MLS, Football

Joshua Nair
Joshua Nair

Freelance football writer.

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@joshnair10

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