Man United Legend Says Messi's Arrival Saw Him Sacked by Inter Miami

Man United Legend Says Messi's Arrival Saw Him Sacked by Inter Miami

Elijah Odetokun
updated at August 23, 2023 at 8:14 AM
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  • Lionel Messi joined MLS franchise Inter Miami in July after leaving PSG
  • Former manager Phil Neville was sacked two weeks before his arrival
  • The Manchester United legend has opened up on what led to his axing

Manchester United legend, Phil Neville, has opened up on the conditions of his departure from Inter Miami and made a shocking admission about Lionel Messi.

Messi arrived at the club in July after it was announced a month earlier that he would be moving to the United States after running down his Paris Saint-Germain contract.

Lionel Messi, Inter Miami, Leagues Cup, Nashville SC.
Lionel Messi won the Best Player and Top Scorer awards after winning the 2023 Leagues Cup. Photo by Kevin C. Cox.
Source: Getty Images

His presence has uplifted a team that was without a win in 11 games to become champions of the inaugural Leagues Cup - the first trophy in the club's history.

However, Messi's arrival was disastrous for one man in particular.

Neville's honest admission on Messi

Neville was in charge of Inter Miami up until two weeks before the Argentine's arrival and was axed in favour of former Barcelona and Argentina manager, Tata Martino.

The Manchester United legend, while previewing the Leagues Cup final on the Offside with Taylor Twellman podcast, opened up on the circumstances surrounding his exit.

"I always had a feeling deep down I wasn't going to be [in Miami] when [Messi] was going to come to the club, and I say that not lacking confidence in myself, but this was different; this was not signing Gonzalo Higuain or Blaise Matuidi," he said.

Neville claimed the knowledge of what was coming helped him deal with the situation and he applauded how Inter Miami co-owner, David Beckham, handled the situation.

"I am not bitter, twisted or angry. They were incredibly honest to me. I have had two special moments in my career away from the medals that I won, and that is when I left Manchester United and when I left Miami."

The 46-year-old was in charge for 18 months before he was fired. He immediately took the assistant manager role with the Canada national team after his departure.

Messi's classy gesture to Yedlin

Sports Brief also reported on Messi showing class to DeAndre Yedlin during the hoisting of the Leagues Cup trophy by Inter Miami earlier this week.

The 2022 World Cup winner replaced the American defender when he joined the club but gave him the armband so they could lift the trophy together.

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Elijah Odetokun
Elijah Odetokun is Reuters-trained journalist with three years of experience having previously worked at Daily Times Nigeria, OmaSports and El Futbolero.
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