Inter Miami consult Messi as Mascherano emerges coaching favourite

Lionel Messi’s new coach at Inter Miami is set to be announced “in the coming days”, according to co-owner Jorge Mas, with reports suggesting Javier Mascherano is the leading candidate.

Argentine coach Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino has left the club for personal reasons, and Mas confirmed that he and co-owner David Beckham have acted swiftly to identify his replacement.

Media reports from Argentina claim Messi’s former Barcelona team-mate Javier Mascherano, currently managing Argentina’s Under-20 national team, is likely to take on the role.

While Mas did not confirm or deny the speculation, he acknowledged that Messi had been consulted during the decision-making process.

“I spoke to Leo on Saturday after he and Tata spoke. I asked him, ‘What is important to you? What is needed to get the best out of our roster? How can we improve?’ Leo shared his thoughts,” Mas said at a press conference.

“Familiarity with Leo and the other stars is an advantage in every aspect. I want Leo to feel comfortable with the new coach,” he added.

Mascherano is not only a former international and club team-mate of Messi’s but also played alongside current Inter Miami players Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, and Luis Suárez during their time at Barcelona.

Mas emphasised that the club required “a great coach” who is “ambitious, hungry, and committed to an attacking style of football.”

Martino joined Inter Miami in June 2023, marking a transformative period for the club following Messi’s arrival. Under Martino, Miami secured the Leagues Cup, a competition involving MLS and Mexican Liga MX clubs, in his debut season.

In 2024, Miami dominated the MLS regular season, winning the Supporters’ Shield for the best overall record and earning a spot in next year’s Club World Cup. However, they suffered a shock defeat to Martino’s former club Atlanta in the opening round of the MLS Cup playoffs.

Reflecting on his tenure, Martino said: “It has been a very satisfactory year and a half. Although we ended the season on a sour note, we achieved great success. I am proud to have transformed this club from a struggling playoff contender to one that won the Leagues Cup and Supporters’ Shield.”

Martino revealed that his decision to leave was driven by personal reasons unrelated to football.

“For strictly personal reasons, I have to leave Inter. I need to be in Rosario. I won’t be working for at least several months next year,” he said.

AFP