New twist to Messi no-show saga
Tatler Asia's Chairman and CEO Michel Lamunière said in an interview that he learned 15 minutes before kick-off that Lionel Messi wouldn't be playing in the friendly match between Inter Miami and a Hong Kong side on February 4. Previously, in a press conference held a day after the match, Lamunière said he learned about Messi's absence at half-time. In an interview with The Athletic, a sports news outlet affiliated with The New York Times, Lamunière said after he found out that the Argentine superstar wouldn't play, Tatler Asia spent the first half trying to persuade Inter Miami to field Messi. Tatler Asia was the organiser of the exhibition match. Lamunière stopped short of saying if Messi's no-show constituted a breach of the agreement, but he said Tatler Asia is currently in discussions with Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham and the Hong Kong government to explore possible solutions.