Inter Miami will be without experienced Spanish left-back Jordi Alba for their Club World Cup opener against Egyptian giants Al Ahly on Saturday, manager Javier Mascherano confirmed.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Mascherano revealed that Alba would miss the match at Hard Rock Stadium due to a leg muscle injury. The Major League Soccer side will also be without midfielder Yannick Bright, who has been ruled out of the Group A clash.
"Jordi and Yannick are not available for this game, but hopefully they will return for the second match," said the former Barcelona and Liverpool midfielder, now in charge of Miami.
The absence of Alba is a significant setback for the South Florida club. The ex-Barcelona star remains one of the key sources of creativity, particularly in linking up with long-time teammate Lionel Messi. Meanwhile, Bright's physical presence in midfield will also be missed, especially alongside the veteran Sergio Busquets.
Mascherano expressed frustration at the squad's lack of depth going into the 32-team tournament. "Of course, we would've liked to have a full squad available. It would make us stronger. But unfortunately, we couldn't bring in new reinforcements for the tournament," he said.