Lionel Messi will play ‘as much as possible’ against Hong Kong XI, says coach, after city gives Inter Miami warm welcome
- Hundreds of fans greet Argentinian and his teammates outside hotel, with tens of thousands expected to attend training session and game
- Sunday’s encounter among more than 80 major events to be held in the first half of the year to boost the city’s economy
Hong Kong gave a warm welcome to Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami team as they arrived on Friday for a much-anticipated weekend game to boost the city’s international profile, and fans were told they could look forward to the football star making an appearance on the pitch despite an injury.
The Argentinian flew in on Friday nursing a hamstring injury picked up during his team’s stop in Saudi Arabia, but coach Gerardo Martino said at a press conference the star would “play as many minutes as possible” against a Hong Kong XI on Sunday.
That will be music to the ears of Messi’s supporters, who, unable to see the Inter Miami side’s arrival at the city airport, packed the pavements outside The Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel in Aberdeen waiting to greet the team bus.
Organisers and police are expecting tens of thousands more at Hong Kong Stadium this weekend, for an open training session on Saturday and an exhibition game against a Hong Kong XI the day after, part of the Tatler Xfest which also includes performances from Keung To, Anson Lo Hon-ting, Gloria Tang Tsz-kei (G.E.M.) and Gareth Tong Ling-shan (Gareth T).
Aware of the potential for chaos, officials have warned people not to travel to Causeway Bay without tickets, and said buying them from third parties would likely result in being turned away at the gate.
Signs placed around Cotton Path, Eastern Hospital Road and Caroline Hill Road, which will be closed to traffic, reinforced that message.
