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Inter Miami manager Gerardo Martino said he didn’t know how “limited” Lionel Messi’s time in Major League Soccer would be following his playoff defeat.
Messi’s Inter Miami were eliminated from the MLS Cup by Atlanta in a surprise 3-2 loss at Chase Stadium on Saturday night. After the defeat, Martino admitted that there was a “question of passing time” with the 37-year-old Argentine, but he did not give a deadline for this end.
Martino told reporters: “I don’t really know how limited (Messi’s time in this league) is. It’s a question of time passing, but I wouldn’t dare say that it is so short. If we look at the context in which this started, it seems to me that the progression of the club is important. Comparing the last game of last season, in October, with today’s third game of the playoffs and this bitterness that we all feel for not having progressed, clearly shows that the club’s objectives have been changed and I think that there is no reason why the club cannot continue to try next year. What happened this year, the good and the bad in general, was better than anything that happened last year and I would even say in the entire life of the club.”
Messi, departure mentioned
Messi’s Miami crushed the MLS Eastern Conference during the regular season but fell at the first hurdle in the playoffs against Atlanta. The former FC Barcelona player also had a great season, scoring 23 goals and providing 13 assists in 24 matches. But this defeat will inevitably raise questions about Messi’s future, with the veteran still having one year left on his contract with the Herons. Nobody knows exactly how much time the former Paris Saint-Germain player has left to play in what has been one of the greatest careers of all time.
Messi will likely be back in action for Argentina when they clash against Paraguay and Peru on November 14 and 20 respectively in their final World Cup qualifying matches. But Miami won’t play again until the 2025 season.
Written by:
Manu Tournoux is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Manu discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team.
 
 As an author for the website, Manu's expertise includes not only in-depth analysis of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches but also insightful profiles of up-and-coming talents, detailed transfer news, and engaging coverage of the French national team. His captivating writing style and undeniable passion for the game have earned him a loyal following among our readers.
 
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