Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets find "ridiculous" way to make MLS look easy
Everyone expected Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets to be a hit in America, but few could have confidently predicted the magnitude of their immediate impact.
Messi stole the show with a last-minute free-kick against Cruz Azul on Friday as he made his Inter Miami debut alongside Busquets. Four days later, the former Barcelona pair were handed their first starts in America in the Leagues Cup against Atlanta United - and made it look easy.
Facing MLS opposition for the first time since his move, it took Messi just eight minutes to open the scoring after a sumptuous through-ball from Busquets. In the 22nd minute, Messi doubled his tally after a well-worked move started by Busquets.
Robert Taylor grabbed the next two, the fourth being assisted by Messi as Inter Miami dominated from start to finish. And former United States international Taylor Twellman, now Apple TV's lead analyst, claimed it was "ridiculous" how easily Messi and Busquets were able to link up as they pulled the strings in a 4-0 win.
The first goal was exactly as Inter Miami would've drawn it up. Busquets was given a bit too much time in the middle of the park and showed his composure and class to find the run of his former Barcelona teammate to race clear and open the scoring.
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There were several occasions where Messi was able to drift into space and was found by Busquets over the top, including another great chance before Messi was ruled narrowly offside around the half-hour mark. After that instance, Twellman claimed it was "ridiculous" how easily the pair were able to have their own way as they made things look easy.
“I figured out pretty quickly why Lionel Messi will only go some place if Busquets comes with him," Twellman said. “It’s ridiculous. It’s not even a secret, and they still pull it off.”
Shortly after Inter Miami scored their fourth goal, Twellman added that it was "unbelievable" how the pair had instantly turned around Inter Miami's fortunes with the team sitting bottom of the MLS Eastern Conference prior to their arrival.
HAVE YOUR SAY! What did you make of Lionel Messi's first start for Inter Miami? Join the discussion in the comments section.
Busquets and Messi made things look easy with their "ridiculous" link-up play against MLS opponents (Hector Vivas/Getty Images)The way in which they were able to link up with ease with Messi drifting around the pitch and Busquets anchoring would appear to mark trouble for their upcoming opponents.
“It’s unbelievable," Twellman said. "In the blink of an eye, Messi and Busquets have turned this game, this league, this city on its head.”
Whilst Messi is making himself at home on the pitch, he is also looking to make himself at home off it. Before the game, he was pictured viewing a luxury property just off Intracoastal Waterway in an area known as the 'Venice of America'.
Messi was pictured with his wife Antonella Roccuzzo and their kids Thiago, Mateo, and Ciro, as they took a trip around the house. Messi already owns property in Miami but now appears to be looking for a new permanent residence after embarking on the latest chapter of his glittering career.
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