- Inter Miami was scheduled to play CSL’s Qingdao Hainiu and Chengdu Rongcheng
- Bureaucratic issues force Miami to remain at the Florida Blue Training Center
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Inter Miami has canceled its mini-postseason tour in China after the trip descended into chaos just three days before the team was set to depart, according to reports.
Lionel Messi and co. would travel to the Far East to play two friendly matches against Chinese Super League clubs Qingdao Hainiu and Chengdu Rongcheng on November 5 and 8 respectively.
But the Herons will no longer make the trip after both matches were canceled due to “bureaucratic and commercial issues”, according to Argentinian journalist Gaston Edul.
With the Expedition reportedly canceling the Fort Lauderdale-based MLS team, it will now remain in the United States after missing the playoffs.
The club has yet to confirm that the postseason tour has been canceled.
Lionel Messi and Inter Miami’s mini-postseason tour in China has reportedly been canceled
Tata Martino’s team was due to fly to China on Thursday, but will now reportedly remain in the United States
Miami was scheduled to play friendlies against Qingdao Hainiu and Chengdu Rongcheng
The details of the bureaucratic and commercial issues are currently unclear, but they reportedly force the Herons to remain at the Florida Blue Training Center for training until mid-November.
The tour was thrown into chaos last week when it was reported that organizers had canceled the team’s second match for ‘various reasons’.
The first friendly match against Qingdao Hainiu also had a location change at the last minute. According to reports, neither will happen now.
The cancellation comes as a boost of sorts for Miami’s international players, including Messi, who will have to travel for their respective matches for FIFA’s upcoming international break.
However, it is a blow to Chinese football fans who had been bracing themselves for the arrival of Messi, who won his eighth Ballon d’Or on Monday evening.
He scored 11 goals in his first half of the season for Miami after leaving Paris Saint-Germain in the summer.
Before moving to Inter Miami in the summer, Messi, 36, masterminded Argentina’s World Cup victory in Qatar, scoring twice in the final, while also finding the back of the net in a penalty shootout, to help the team beat 2018 winners France.
The Argentine World Cup winner won his eighth Ballon d’Or title in Paris on Monday evening
He also scored an impressive 32 goals in 55 appearances in all competitions for PSG, helping the side win the Ligue 1 title.
Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham presented him with the coveted award at the Theater du Chatelet in Paris to a standing ovation from the audience.
Certain reports have suggested that Messi could leave temporarily and rejoin a loaned European club before the 2024 MLS season begins in February next year, with the former Barcelona and several Saudi Arabian teams in the area.
But Messi has dismissed those reports and now looks set to stay in Miami and get preparations underway for his first full season at the DRV PNK Stadium.