Lionel Messi joined Inter Miami 18 months ago, and it’s safe to say that it has been a whirlwind of an adventure for the Herons.
From one of the worst teams in MLS to winning the Supporters’ Shield this year, Messi’s arrival has transformed everything for Inter Miami, who will now compete in next year’s FIFA Club World Cup as the elected host team.
With Inter Miami eyeing big plans to sign the likes of Neymar, 2025 is shaping up to be an incredibly exciting year for the Herons, with new manager Javier Mascherano eager to succeed with the Florida franchise having taken the hot seat.
And youngster Leo Afonso has now shared what Messi and company have brought to Inter Miami training since joining.
Inter Miami players ‘have to be perfect’ whilst training with Messi
Speaking on Nosso Palestra, the Brazilian attacker shared how Messi’s arrival, as well as Sergio Busquets’, Jordi Alba’s and Luis Suarez’s, have raised the standards to near-perfection at Inter Miami.
With Leonardo Campana echoing Afonso’s comments on Messi in Inter Miami training, the Argentine international has been huge in raising the standards at Chase Stadium, with every player seemingly benefiting from work alongside the 37-year-old.
Afonso said when asked what it’s like to train with Messi and Inter Miami’s other star players: “I never dreamed of playing with these sort of players. At most, I thought I would meet them as opponents, but never to be playing in the same team as them.
|I think the biggest impact they’ve had on the team is that you now have to be perfect, you can’t make any mistakes. Even at their age, they still expect the best from everyone, so they have definitely raised the team’s standards.”
What else has been said about Messi in training?
Training with Messi is a privilege every player on the planet would love to experience just once in their career, with Inter Miami’s squad getting something that they will be talking about for the rest of their lives.
And Messi’s impact in training has been big, with Noah Allen noting earlier this year that Inter Miami’s sessions aren’t as intense when the Argentine isn’t taking part, though the standard is still quite high as a result of the 37-year-old being at the club.
Indeed, Inter Miami’s players have benefited hugely from playing and training with Messi, and next year could see a number of figures in the senior roster hit new heights if the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner can remain fit and healthy for most of the season.