In a crowd of thousands of people under the floodlights on a rainy Sunday night is how Lionel Messi was presented as an Inter Miami player. After months of waiting Messi finally entered the next stage of his career. Now all the eyes are on his debut and this long-awaited debut for Inter Miami has sparked a heated rivalry in the locker room of their upcoming opponents, Cruz Azul.

Lionel Messi is set to debut in their upcoming match against Cruz Azul in the Leagues Cup. Also, the Argentine is set to don the iconic No 10 jersey for the Pink team, and players from the Mexican side are determined to get their hands on his jersey.

Cruz Azul players ready to enter a dogfight for Lionel Messi’s jersey

The anticipation for Messi’s first game in the pink colors of Inter Miami is reaching a fever pitch. And emotions are running high among the Cruz Azul players. Even before the match has taken place, they are already formulating plans and issuing warnings to their teammates. Carlos Rodolfo Rotondi, a striker for Cruz Azul, has spoken out about the frenzy surrounding Messi’s debut.

Dive Deeper: “It’s a Huge Moment” – Exactly 16 Years After David Beckham’s MLS Debut, Lionel Messi to Debut For Inter Miami

He revealed that since the announcement of Messi joining Inter Miami and his impending first game, he has been inundated with messages, particularly from friends and family. Rotondi, alongside his teammate Augusto Lotti, is also devising a strategy to secure Messi’s precious jersey.

“We are both, with Augusto Lotti, we are the two Argentinians here in the team, and we are trying to go somewhere to have already agreed something,” Rotondi stated. The striker’s determination to obtain the shirt is so intense that Rotondi even issued a warning. He stated, “I think that if someone takes my shirt off, we’ll break up the dressing room. There’s no going back”.

This statement reflects the immense value that Messi holds in the world of soccer. The fact that rival players are already preoccupied with securing Messi’s jersey highlights the respect and admiration they have for him as a player. Messi’s arrival at Inter Miami has undoubtedly elevated the status of American soccer. All eyes are now on his debut game, in which Messi may not even play the entire 90 minutes.

Lionel Messi might have limited playtime in his debut game

It appears that Lionel Messi may not play the entire duration of his first game. According to team owner David Beckham, Messi is expected to have limited playing time against Cruz Azul. The Manchester United legend explained that this is due to Messi needing some time to adjust to the league. Beckham believes that Messi will need space to understand the tactics and regain fitness.

As a result, it is possible that Messi will not participate for the entire duration of the game against Cruz Azul. Beckham shared, “Leo will play a portion of the game, but ultimately it will be up to the coach and Leo himself to determine if he is ready, considering he has been away with his family for a few weeks”. As the match approaches, all eyes will be on Messi and his debut performance. And for Carlos Rotondi, his eyes will be on that No. 10 jersey.

Watch this story: NFL Star’s Wife Celebrates Soccer Greatest Lionel Messi’s Miami Transfer with Unbridled Joy

What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments.