Inter Miami to Tour Saudi Arabia for Riyadh Season Cup

Inter Miami has officially announced that they will be participating in the Riyadh Season Cup in Saudi Arabia this winter. The team will play friendly matches against Al Hilal and Al Nassr, which will feature a highly anticipated showdown between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Initial Denial and Confirmation

Less than a month ago, Inter Miami denied reports of their involvement in the competition. However, the club has now confirmed their participation, much to the excitement of fans.

Fixture Details

The first match will be against Al Hilal on Monday, January 29. Al Hilal’s squad boasts talented players such as Ruben Neves, Kalidou Koulibaly, Aleksandr Mitrovic, Malcom, and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. Unfortunately, Neymar will miss the game due to injury.

Three days later, on Thursday, February 1, Inter Miami will face Al Nassr. Al Nassr’s lineup includes Cristiano Ronaldo, Sadio Mane, Marcelo Brozovic, and defenders Alex Telles and Aymeric Laporte.

Both matches will take place at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh and will kick off at 6pm GMT (9pm Saudi time).

Excitement and Expectations

Xavier Asensi, Inter Miami’s chief business officer, expressed his enthusiasm for the tour: “This is another major opportunity to create lasting relationships with passionate fans. We are excited to connect with new supporters in Saudi Arabia, and also hope people all over the world will be tuning in to see a pair of dream matches like these.”

Important Tests for Inter Miami

Chris Henderson, Inter Miami’s chief soccer officer and sporting director, emphasized the significance of these matches for the team: “These matches will offer important tests for our team, which will benefit us as we approach the new season. We’re excited for our group to go up against teams with as much quality as Al-Hilal and Al Nassr.”

A Rivalry Renewed

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have had one of the most high-profile rivalries in football history. Messi, who spent the majority of his career at Barcelona, and Ronaldo, who had a successful spell at Real Madrid, competed against each other for the men’s Ballon d’Or award between 2008 and 2017.

The Last Encounter

Messi and Ronaldo last faced each other when Paris Saint-Germain played against the Saudi All-Stars in January of this year. Both players scored in the game, adding to their legendary rivalry.