USMNT legend Alexi Lalas issues stern warning to Lionel Messi if Javier Mascherano appointment is not successful at Inter Miami

USMNT legend Alexi Lalas has warned that Javier Mascherano's appointment as Inter Miami manager could affect Lionel Messi if the former fails to deliver at the club. Mascherano was handed the reins at Fort Lauderdale following Tata Martino's exit for personal reasons at the end of the 2024 MLS season.

There have been concerns that Mascherano could be too inexperienced to manage Inter Miami. Prior to his appointment, the former Argentina international had only coached Argentina's U-20 and U-23 teams.

Speaking recently on his Alexi Lalas State of the Union Podcast, Lalas warned that hiring an inexperienced manager is a huge risk. He opined that Messi's legacy could be affected if Mascherano fails to deliver the goods.

“If it doesn’t go well, that falls on Messi directly and the brand of Messi,” Lalas said (via Essentially Sports).

The onus will now be on Mascherano to take Inter Miami to greater heights after a relatively successful 2024 campaign where they won the Supporters' Shield. They also set a record for most points during a regular season (74). However, the Herons fell short in the MLS Playoffs, getting eliminated by Atlanta United in the first round.

Mascherano will also have to deal with managing big names such as Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, Luis Suarez, and Jordi Alba.

MLS legend blames Lionel Messi for Tata Martino's exit from Inter Miami

MLS legend Landon Donovan has claimed that Lionel Messi might have played a role in Tata Martino's exit from Inter Miami. The Argentine manager stepped down from the role at the end of the 2024 MLS campaign and has been replaced by Javier Mascherano.

Speaking recently on Unfiltered Soccer, Donovan said:

“Usually I think when a manager says they’re stepping away, that means the club pushed you out. I will say, as someone as experienced as Tata Martino, I could see a scenario where he’s said: ‘I truly need to step away for a while.'"

"However, that all changed when all these Mascherano rumors began. If he steps away and you have a decision the next day, guess what, that decision is being made for months ahead of time. I think it’s pretty clear what happened here, I think Leo and everyone said: ‘It’s been great, but if we don’t win it [MLS Cup], this is what’s going to happen, he’s going to resign and we’re going to bring in our boy," he added.

Lionel Messi and Javier Mascherano were teammates at Barcelona as well as the Argentina national team. They played together on 414 occasions, recording three joint goal participations.