To inject Miami’s treasury, Messi to play friendlies in China 

Lionel Messi is going back to China after Inter Miami took advantage of not making the Major League Soccer playoffs by signing a deal to play two exhibition matches next month. The team said it would play a pair of friendlies against Chinese Super League teams, the first against Qingdao Hainiu on 5 November and then against Chengdu Rongcheng on 8 November. The two stadiums can hold between 50,000 and 60,000 fans. Some Inter Miami season ticket prices will double next season. Those dates coincide with the first round of the MLS playoffs. Inter Miami was eliminated from playoff contention earlier this month. After Messi came to the United States in July following the end of his contract with Paris Saint-Germain, the number of Inter’s followers on social media increased significantly, while the team won its first titles in the American and Mexican Association Cup in August. But with the crowded match schedule and Messi being away for a while due to injury, the team failed to qualify for the playoffs.