Inter Miami is set to unveil Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets as their new players. While Busquets’ signing has already been announced, Messi’s announcement is expected to follow soon.
There has been some skepticism surrounding Messi’s move to Major League Soccer (MLS).
However, Inter Miami’s new coach, Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino, who is a long-time friend of Messi, emphasized that Messi’s decision to join the club is purely based on business and the desire to win, rather than the allure of Miami’s sunny beaches.
Martino made these remarks during his introductory press conference, as reported by Football Espana.
“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, [with] holidays — this isn’t that. We want to compete… they are not footballers who are going to come here to not compete.”
Martino, who was announced on Wednesday as Inter Miami’s new head coach, is following Messi and Busquets to Miami, both of whom revealed their decisions to join the MLS club earlier this month.
Martino speaks on Inter Miami
The accomplished Argentine manager — who, as reported by ESPN, was crowned MLS coach of the year in 2018 — has coached both players before, as he worked with Messi and Busquets during his stint with Barcelona from 2013 to 2014 and Messi on the Argentine national team from 2014-16.
But Martino said his decision to join the club premeditated Messi and Busquets hopping aboard.
“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.
Messi, Martino, and Busquets will have a steep road to climb to get Inter Miami back into the race.
The MLS team now on a seven-game losing run and is in last place in the league standings.
Martino thinks that Messi’s addition will significantly boost the American soccer league’s growth.
“That the best player in the world decides to play in this league, obviously it will open up an even better panorama for that growth. I believe that the United States is not a country that misses out on this type of opportunity.”