Messi receives bad news ahead of the MLS Cup final

After Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets left when the season concluded, Lionel Messi now risks losing yet another close teammate at Inter Miami.

As the 2025 MLS season nears its conclusion, Inter Miami stands on the brink of glory. The team led by Lionel Messi will compete in the MLS Cup final in the early hours of December 7 (Vietnam time), facing Vancouver Whitecaps with the ambition to claim the club's first-ever national championship.

Regardless of the outcome, this moment remains very special for the squad coached by Javier Mascherano. Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, two experienced pillars and longtime teammates of Messi, will officially retire after the season ends.

However, Inter Miami is likely not done saying goodbye to major stars. The contract of Luis Suarez is set to expire on December 31, and so far, no renewal agreement has been reached. Near the end of his career, with less than two months until he turns 39, the Uruguayan striker has received a concrete offer from South America.

Back home in Uruguay, Nacional fans are hopeful about Suarez returning to play for the club in 2026, as Nacional has qualified for the Copa Libertadores. Nicolas Lodeiro, who recently returned after playing in the MLS, admitted that he frequently communicates with and tries to persuade his senior teammate. “We always talk to Luis and hope he will come back. We are constantly trying to convince him,” Lodeiro shared.

Nacional’s Vice President, Mr. Flavio Perchman, also expressed anticipation for this possibility. “He knows the door at Nacional is always open. If he sees this as the best place to end his career, that would be wonderful. I haven’t spoken directly with Luis yet; what I know is through Lodeiro. The positive thing is that we still have hope. For now, let him focus on playing the final comfortably; we still have time,” Mr. Perchman said.

Suarez joined Inter Miami from Gremio in 2024 to reunite with Messi, Busquets, and Alba, his former Barcelona teammates. Immediately, the Uruguayan striker made a huge impact and is currently the club’s second top scorer in history, only behind Messi.

According to statistics from Transfermarkt, Suarez has played 87 matches across all competitions for Inter Miami, scoring 42 goals and providing 29 assists. He was part of the squad that won the 2024 Supporters’ Shield and is now just one match away from securing the club’s first MLS Cup title. The final against Vancouver Whitecaps not only marks the farewell of Alba and Busquets but also possibly Suarez’s last appearance for Inter Miami.

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