Jordi Alba will feature in his final professional match as Inter Miami face Vancouver Whitecaps for the MLS title.
Spain international full-back Jordi Alba of Inter Miami announced his retirement from professional football, stating that Saturday’s MLS final will be his last match. Alba described the week as ‘full of emotions’ and expressed his desire to conclude his career by winning a trophy.
“Regardless of the outcome, this will be my final game. Hopefully, I can leave with positive feelings, telling myself: ‘I’m leaving, but winning a title‘,” Alba stated during a press conference.
Inter Miami and Vancouver Whitecaps will contest the MLS final this Saturday in Miami, with both clubs aiming for their first league title. This match will be Alba’s last as a professional, and it also marks the final professional appearance for his teammate Sergio Busquets.
“‘Busi’ is in the same situation as me. Everyone experiences it differently, but it will surely be an emotional match; the emotion is felt in the moment,” said Alba, who also reflected on his departure from Barcelona in 2023.
“My last match with Barcelona was highly emotional and poignant, as I knew I would not wear that shirt again, a club that gave me so much. However, this is no longer about leaving a team; it’s about stepping away from football entirely. It’s ‘a bigger step‘,” he explained. For the Barcelona academy graduate, a key player for Inter Miami and a crucial partner for Lionel Messi, this week holds particular significance.
“This week has brought many emotions, knowing it will be my final match, and it’s certainly a different experience, but I am resolute in my decision to ‘end my career in the best possible scenario: a final‘,” he affirmed.