“Twin baller” Lionel Messi vs. Luis Suarez made an unfortunate debut. They all played only the first half of a goalless draw against El Salvador on January 20.

The friendly encounter against El Salvador this morning (January 20) marked debutant Luis Suarez’s Inter Miami Club debut after the Uruguayan star was brought back from Gremio. As predicted, coach Tata Martino quickly tested the “pair” of Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi in attack. This is the match in which the side owned by former football star David Beckham began with a 5-3-2 shape.

However, Coach Martino’s attempt to combine this “dual” failed totally. No one remembers the well-matched couple that “shouted the rain and called the wind” in Barca’s colors a few years ago. They have virtually little link. Messi and his close pal were unable to coordinate well on the field. Suarez also only made one remarkable pass for M10 in front of El Salvador’s goal.

Despite the pursuit of El Salvador players, the eight-time Golden Ball winner still passes the ball like no one else. He also had a few great attempts on goal, including a very tight volley from beyond the penalty area that forced El Salvador’s goalkeeper to make a save in the 35th minute. But the link with Luis Suarez, which Inter Miami fans are most looking forward to in this match, is almost non-existent.

Suarez was mostly alone on Inter Miami’s attack during his time on the field, as he lost communication with his teammates downfield. That is why the Uruguayan rookie only had one memorable chance at El Salvador’s goal, which was easily blocked by opposing goalkeeper Mario Gonzalez. In general, Suarez appears sluggish; he moves slowly and is constantly at a disadvantage against the opponent’s defenders in pressing situations.

Coach Martino was so upset with Messi and Suarez’s performance that he removed both stars off the field at halftime, ignoring the discomfort of the spectators in the stands. With what this “closeness” demonstrated in the match against El Salvador, Inter Miami can scarcely aspire to reclaim their heroic image from their glory days at Barcelona. Suarez will undoubtedly have to put in a lot of effort in the coming future if he does not want to be sarcastic about heading to America to retire with his “retired ancestors”.

Messi and Suarez had a good pairing at Camp Nou for six years, beginning in 2014. They shone together, helping Barca win numerous great trophies. Messi scored 236 goals for the Catalans over that span, while Suarez scored 170 and assisted on 215 others. However, the last time they played together at Barcelona before being separated, this attacking tandem suffered a stunning 2-8 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals.