“I am very happy to be here" - Mascherano speaks out after getting appointed as head coach of Lionel Messi led Inter Miami

Lionel Messi's former teammate Javier Mascherano has spoken about after being appointed Inter Miami's new head coach. The Argentine coach left his job with his country's Under-23 team, opting to take on his first managerial role at a club.

Mascherano and Messi notably spent eight years playing together at Barcelona. They also played in the Argentina national team before the defender retired from the sport. They shared the pitch a total of 414 times. Now, the 40-year-old will have the opportunity to coach Messi and potentially lead the Herons to MLS glory.

After Tata Martino left the role at Fort Lauderdale, there were rumors that the club could move for former Barca manager Xavi Hernandez. However, they decided on Mascherano, who has spoken to the press about his plans to manage Lionel Messi (via Inter Miami News):

“I have never denied the relationship I have with Leo and I will never deny it. Now, the decisions about how they are made and what the methodology is, you will have to ask whoever makes those decisions. I am very happy to be here, I’m excited, and I’m eager to show what I am really worth.

"Beyond the fact that I have a relationship with many players here, I think it is a good thing since it is much easier to be close to some of them. It is not difficult for me to mix things up, I am not going to put the years of relationship I have had with them at risk for a position. For me, life goes beyond football.”

Tata Martino and Lionel Messi led the Herons to the Leagues Cup in 2023 and the Supporters Shield in 2024. Miami fans will hope to clinch the MLS Cup under Mascherano in 2025.

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Pundit questions Inter Miami's decision to hire Lionel Messi's former teammate Mascherano

Pundit Shaka Hislop has questioned the reasons behind Inter Miami's decision to hire Javier Mascherano as the new head coach. He raised concerns about the former Barcelona defender's lack of experience in club management, telling ESPN (via Inter Miami News):

“There are some pluses, but looking in from the outside, there are few and far between. That’s down to a couple of things, one is his inexperience.

“Yes, he’s been coaching Argentina’s U-20s, but that’s only 20 games in charge. Coming into a system and a club like Inter Miami and a league like MLS and all the quirks that come with that and then the expectations around Inter Miami, it’s a lot.”

Indeed, he has managed just 50 games while coaching Argentina U-20 and U-23. However, it is worth noting that only 12 were losses, while there were 28 wins and 10 draws.

The Argentine manager will look to take what experience he has gathered across his two years of coaching to lead the Herons and Lionel Messi.