Robert Lewandowski, dressed in civilian clothes in the stands, flanked by Gerard Piqué and Ferran Torres, could have been another of the thousands of voices that shouted “wow” with the 0-6 that Barça endorsed Inter Miami.
The first collective exclamation of admiration came from the DRV PNk Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, in Floredia, and not because of a goal. No need that he did. The play took place in the center of the field and, suddenly, Ansu Fati made a spur touch, and with his back turned, he raised the ball and dodged the Inter Miami defender. The subsequent race and his pass did not achieve the objective of reaching “a barraca”, but that brushstroke of art is one of those things that leaves a trace of satisfaction.
A detail like that justifies watching a preseason game that lacked any history. Barely two minutes ago, in the 41st minute of the first half, Fati himself had scored three to nil. There might be a few more in the locker by now.
Inter's locals were a team that, despite being in the middle of the league (MLS), showed why they rank low in the Eastern Conference, with a more than discreet game and little personality. Pipita Higuaín, a pensioner in shorts, walks through the green among memories of another era.
Barça returned to the United States this Tuesday (early Wednesday morning in Spain) and this first game of the American tour ended with a six-nil, with the clear sign that the future goes through Pedri, Ansu, Gavi and Nico, who Chrsitensen He knows how to touch the ball, that Kessié promises to fight not without quality, that Rapinha did not overflow but he liked the pass and debuted with the goal, that Pablo Torre arrives hungry and with the same impudence as the quartet of teenagers and that Dembélé has desire to haggle over everything that is put in front of him, including himself. Sometimes it makes a mess.
And to all this, Lewandowski is still missing, who is expected for the new edition of the classic of the Americas next Saturday (Sunday morning in Spain) in Las Vegas. Regardless of rivalries, Real Madrid will be opposite, who will not go out onto the field to see them coming, not even with fear in their bodies.
The clash, which didn't happen, was a clear statement that MLS is a long way from the big leagues. The physical strength, speed, tension and concentration of the azulgranas highlighted the football of the rosés, the team led by David Beckham, and the difference in category between them. Two worlds, although surely the level of competitiveness of New York Red Bull, one of the leaders, will be much higher when they face each other in a few days in the last match of this adventure.
Because this debut consisted of a training session with the public, with 20,000 tickets sold out (they say it is the first time the stadium has been filled) and more fans wearing Barça shirts than Inter shirts, in a ratio of 80 to 20 This also explains where the interest of the fan is.
The Catalan team, in another of its bureaucratic oversights, could not count on its coach Xavi Hernández on the bench. He is waiting to get a visa, stopped in the first instance by having traveled to Iran. Barça's lawyers were in limbo and this is the United States.
So Óscar Hernández, Xavi's brother and assistant coach, directed two completely different elevens. The first half seemed more compact with the involvement of Christensen, Nico, Pedri, Ansu and Rapinha who scored the second goal of a torrid night, after the first by Aubameyang. Three quality goals, of collective play, in which the third, Ansu's, stood out for his preparation at the first touch and the final shot.
None of those elevens was in the resumption. Then Busquets commanded, but the agitator, as always when he is on the field, was Gavi, author of the four to nil, after Memphis Depay's corner kick. The Dutch sent low and Gavi resolved with a good touch. A technical goal, although it only existed due to the level of absentmindedness and lack of concentration of the locals.
Then came the masterful goal from Memphis, who stepped on the ball and made a reverse. The defender was stuck. Dembélé closed the win in individual play, after an Inter player lost the ball almost in the center of the field when trying to make a tunnel! to Busquets.
In the end, Barcá left interesting notes, presented a good version, although there is little room for euphoria due to the softness of the rival. The Inter team gave the impression that they were in a museum, stunned by the beauty that surrounded them, looking carefully so as not to break anything. The stats speak for themselves: 23 shots to one, eight on target to none.
"It's a blessing to have so many strikers," said Óscar Hernández at the end of the party. “Xavi will be able to choose”. If they all continue -Memphis claimed to stay or was revalued in the market?-, you will have to make a waiting list. There is no field or balls for so many shooters.
The party had a culmination of glamor. Romeo Beckham, son of the owner, who is called "the heir", played the last minutes. He didn't touch the ball, but he can't be blamed. Trainer Phil Neville gave his son, Harvey Neville, more time.
