June 25, (THEWILL) – Former Mexico manager, Gerardo “Tata” Martino, has confirmed that he is in discussions with Inter Miami, the future team of football star, Lionel Messi.
Martino revealed the ongoing talks during a testimonial match held in Argentina to honour Maxi Rodríguez, a former Newell’s Old Boys player. The match featured prominent Argentine players, including Messi and Ángel Di María, who played against a team of Newell’s Old Boys legends coached by Martino. As both Martino and Messi hail from Rosario, where Newell’s is based, this potential collaboration holds significance.
Martino, who left his position with the Mexico national team in December, has previous experience coaching Messi at Barcelona and Argentina. Having led Messi and Argentina to consecutive Copa América finals, including the 2016 edition held in the US, Martino, 60, possesses a successful coaching track record. Additionally, he won the MLS Cup as the manager of Atlanta United in 2018, despite disagreements with the club’s sporting department. Martino’s ability to influence player recruitment was crucial to Atlanta United’s immediate triumph in the league.
A source close to Martino disclosed that although he and Messi had a fine working relationship, they were neither exceptionally close nor distant. Both the player and the manager have grown and evolved over the past seven years, with Messi becoming a World Cup champion and Martino expressing a keen interest in returning to MLS. So far, Inter Miami have declined to comment on potential coaching candidates, while Martino has expressed his affinity for MLS and his attraction to the league’s style and possibilities.
Martino’s involvement in the successful project at Atlanta United, characterised by clear direction, effective communication, and shared objectives, has fueled his desire to return to MLS. With his history of coaching Messi and his prior MLS accomplishments, Martino’s potential collaboration with Inter Miami holds promise.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
