Lionel Messi is preparing for a rigorous travel schedule that will see him cross the Atlantic twice within a single week to balance his professional commitments with Inter Miami and a prestigious appearance in Spain. The Argentine star is scheduled to play for his club in Atlanta this Saturday before traveling to Oviedo, Spain, to accept the Princess of Asturias Award, as reported by La Nación.
The logistics of the trip require a quick turnaround. Messi is expected to arrive at Asturias-Ranón Airport on the morning of Thursday, October 22. By 5:30 p.m. that same day, he is scheduled to participate in an educational event at the Palacio de los Deportes in Oviedo, where he will engage with students involved in the “Juego del 10” pedagogical project, according to the Fundación Princesa de Asturias. Following the ceremony at the Teatro Campoamor on Friday, October 23, Messi must return to the United States almost immediately to rejoin Inter Miami for a match against the New York Red Bulls, occurring less than 24 hours after his arrival back in the country.
Coaching support for the international trip
Inter Miami head coach Cristian “Kily” González has publicly backed the forward’s decision to attend the awards ceremony. “The club agrees that he should go because it is a terribly important award, not only for him but for his family,” González said. The coach emphasized that he is not concerned about the impact on Messi’s availability for the upcoming MLS fixtures, stating, “I want him to be well.”
Kily González confirma que Lionel Messi viajará a Oviedo la próxima semana.Al mismo tiempo aclara que estará disponible para el partido frente a New York Red Bulls.Todo el equipo respalda de Messi reciba ese premio.#InterMiamiCF #Messi pic.twitter.com/tZ15R9NhP7
Tactically, González expressed a desire to see Messi operate further up the pitch, noting that the player’s tendency to drop deep to collect the ball often signals a lack of fluidity in the team’s overall play. “I don’t like it when he comes back to get the ball,” the coach said. “I want him further forward. When he goes back, it’s because we aren’t flowing.”
Public engagement in Oviedo
The event at the Palacio de los Deportes is expected to be the most heavily attended public engagement for the Foundation this year, with a capacity for at least 5,000 people. While the venue will host approximately 2,000 students linked to the “Toma la palabra” educational initiative, the Foundation has opened its digital box office to offer the remaining 3,000 tickets to the general public, COPE reported. Registration for these spots opens on Sunday, October 18.
Despite the high level of public interest, Teresa Sanjurjo, director of the Fundación Princesa de Asturias, confirmed to COPE that Messi will not deliver a speech during the formal award ceremony. “Messi will not speak,” Sanjurjo said. “We follow the tradition of the awards.” Other honorees scheduled to take the word include writer Julian Barnes, astronaut Cristina Koch, and historian Timothy Garton Ash.
MLS standings and upcoming schedule
Inter Miami enters the weekend match on a positive run, having secured two consecutive clean-sheet victories—a 4-0 win against New York and a 2-0 result against DC United. The club currently sits in 14th place in the table of the Eastern Conference of the MLS.
Kily González sobre Messi:"No me gusta cuando viene a buscar la pelota atrás"La idea es darle el balón en el lugar exacto y ese es trabajo del resto del equipo.#InterMiamiCF #Messi pic.twitter.com/z8XsUfgKVc
The timeline for Messi’s return remains tight. Because he must fly back to the United States to prepare for the match, he will be unable to attend the traditional dinner following the ceremony at the Teatro Campoamor, according to COPE.
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