Messi and Rodrigo De Paul left out of Inter Miami squad, rested for Champions Cup

Argentina teammates Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul were not included in Javier Mascherano’s matchday squad for Inter Miami’s road clash with Charlotte FC at Bank of America Stadium. Neither player is injured, and both were reportedly rested ahead of Miami’s second-leg meeting with Nashville SC in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.

Mascherano said the club treats every competition as a priority: “We’re not a team that chooses which competitions to play in; we’re obligated to compete in all of them. Clearly, the Champions Cup is the only competition the club normally plays in that we’re missing, and it’s generating a lot of excitement for all of us. Now, what we can’t allow is for this to become an obsession. It’s one thing to be excited, another to be obsessed.”

Suarez made a rare start. Nashville held Miami to a 0-0 draw in the first leg last week, and the two sides will meet again on Wednesday.

After their continental duties, Inter Miami will travel to New York to face NYCFC next Sunday.

United States, Charlotte

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