Inter Miami Coach Reveals Lionel Messi’s Intentions in the MLS

• Lionel Messi recently completed his transfer to MLS side Inter Miami
• The Argentine is set to make his debut later in July
• Messi is expected to play alongside former teammate, Sergio Busquets, who recently switched to the MLS

Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets are expected to be unveiled as new Inter Miami players. The latter’s signing has already been announced, while Messi’s is expected in the near future.

Though a bit of skepticism has followed the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner’s transfer to the MLS, Inter Miami’s new coach and long-time friend of Messi has insisted that the forward’s decision to join them is all business.

In his introductory press conference on Thursday, new Inter Miami manager, Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino told the media, and as quoted by Football Espana, that his reunion with Messi and Sergio Busquets is about winning — not Miami’s sunny beaches.

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“When we spoke with Leo, yesterday I spoke with Sergio, we talked about arriving to have success, to compete and compete well,” Martino said.

“This happens to us even on a personal level, sometimes we associate the United States, Miami, [with] holidays — this isn’t that. We want to compete… they are not footballers who are going to come here to not compete.”

Martino, who was announced on Wednesday as Inter Miami’s new head coach, is following Messi and Busquets to Miami, both of whom revealed their decisions to join the MLS club earlier this month.

Martino speaks on Inter Miami

The accomplished Argentine manager — who, as reported by ESPN, was crowned MLS coach of the year in 2018 — has coached both players before, as he worked with Messi and Busquets during his stint with Barcelona from 2013 to 2014 and Messi on the Argentine national team from 2014-16.

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But Martino said his decision to join the club premeditated Messi and Busquets hopping aboard.

“I started the talks before [the additions of Messi and Busquets],” Martino said. “I always found this opportunity attractive…let’s just say that the presents arrived next.”

The trio of Messi, Martino, and Busquets will have quite a hill to climb to bring Inter Miami towards contention.

The MLS club currently sits at last place in the MLS Standings and is on a seven-game losing streak.

Martino believes the signing of Messi will bring massive growth to the American soccer league.

“That the best player in the world decides to play in this league, obviously it will open up an even better panorama for that growth. I believe that the United States is not a country that misses out on this type of opportunity.”

Messi happy with Miami transfer

In a previous report, Sports Brief revealed Lionel Messi is excited to start a new career phase after ending his stint in Europe to move to the MLS with Inter Miami.

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The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner was present in his home country to honour Argentine legend, Juan Roman Riquelme, who had his farewell game as Argentina XI took on Boca Juniors XI.

As Soccer reports that Messi, who spoke to the crowd that had turned out in their numbers to witness the memorial game, revealed what the new phase of his career away from Europe means to him.