If anyone thinks that Lionel Messi’s decision to play for MLS club Inter Miami is just about enjoying the sunshine, the team’s new manager defused that concern.
During his introductory press conference on Thursday, new Inter Miami manager Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino let reporters know that his reunion with Messi and Sergio Busquets is not about hanging out at the beach.
It’s about winning.
“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, holidays — this isn’t that. We want to compete… they are not footballers who are going to come here to not compete.”
Martino decided to follow Messi and Busquets to Miami after the soccer stars revealed their decision. The 2018 MLS coach of the year managed both players during his time with Barcelona from 2013 to 2014 and then later coached Messi on the Argentine national team between 2014 and 2016.
Martino also admitted he was talking to Miami before the news of Messi and Busquets dropped.
“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.”
Inter Miami is currently in last place in the MLS standings, so the arrival of the new trio can’t come soon enough.
[NY Post]
About Sean Keeley
Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Managing Editor for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.