Messi ready to return as MLS season gets going with Inter Miami v Real Salt Lake

Pre-season for Messi and co has been marred by controversy after the Argentine missed a one-off game in Hong Kong due to injury.

Messi then played in Japan just days later, enraging Chinese fans and leading to China cancelling two Argentina friendlies.

The Barcelona legend has since released a video in an attempt to clarify his situation, but the story rumbles on, and he will have to fully focus on football now.

Messi was an instant hit in the USA last season and will look to get Inter Miami off to the perfect start here.

Inter Miami vs Real Salt Lake: Luis Suarez

Messi already had former Barcelona teammates Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets with him, and they have been joined by Luis Suarez.

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The former Liverpool striker formed one part of that deadly Barcelona attack with Neymar and Messi.

The duo have played 258 games together and directly contributed to 99 goals with each other in that time, so despite both being quite old, there could be some ridiculous link-up play when these two get going.

For many years, Suarez was one of the world's best strikers and enjoyed huge success at the Camp Nou.

He and Messi became close friends, so it was no surprise to see him join the Argentine superstar at Inter Miami.

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Certainly, we can't wait to see these two combine once more.

IShowSpeed met Inter Miami team in Cristiano Ronaldo Al Nassr shirt and got Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets' names wrong whilst Lionel Messi and CR7 were absent

Inter Miami vs Real Salt Lake: Team news

The big news is that the hosts expect Messi to be fit after missing a couple of pre-season games.

Suarez will likely make his MLS debut, meaning we should see those two play together again.

Alba and Busquets are also anticipated to be involved.

But Benjamin Cremaschi and Facundo Farias are injured.

Real Salt Lake are likely to hand a debut to Englishman Matt Crooks, who recently joined from Middlesbrough.

Inter Miami vs Real Salt Lake: Date and how to follow

The MLS opener will take place on Wednesday, February 21.

Kick-off at the DRV PNK Stadium is scheduled for 6pm local time, which is 1am on Thursday morning in the UK.

In the UK, the match will be broadcast on Apple TV.

A subscription for Apple TV can be bought for just £8.99 per month.

talkSPORT and talkSPORT.com will have all of the reaction.

To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream. You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.

Inter Miami vs Real Salt Lake: What has been said?

Messi has come out and insisted that him not playing in China was due to injury and nothing political.

In a video released online, he said: "I tried to train and made an effort for all those who'd come to watch training.

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"I did all I could. I also went along to the football clinic with all the kids. But I really couldn't play.

"I felt discomfort and there was a risk it'd get worse."