Owner Jorge Mas wants to extend Messi, says he 'would fully expect' the Argentine on the roster for stadium opening in 2026
As expected, Inter Miami confirmed Friday that manager Tata Martino is leaving the club, with the 62-year-old Argentine citing "personal reasons" for his departure.
“It has been an honor to work at such a special club, and to lead such a special team," Martino said at a news conference, alongside managing owner Jorge Mas and president of football operations Rail Sanllehi. "I’ve enjoyed my stay at Inter Miami and will treasure the memories made and relationships forged here for the rest of my life. I depart with nothing but gratitude for my time here and would like to offer sincere thanks to everyone that made it possible.
"For strictly personal reasons, I have to leave Inter. I can’t come back next year, I need to be in Rosario."
The news comes weeks after Miami, the 2024 Supporters' Shield winners and No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, crashed out of the postseason in the opening round, falling to Atlanta United.
The club is embarking on a journey to find their next manager, while preparing for 2025 and the years beyond. While they did not confirm reports that Miami is set to hire Javier Mascherano, Lionel Messi's former Argentina and Barcelona teammate, as Martino's replacement, Mas and Sanllehi spoke about what the future of the club looks like, the status of Messi's contract, and ambitions for the organization.
Getty Images SportMartino out, Mascherano in?
With Martino departing, multiple reports surfaced Friday that Mascherano is set to become the club's next coach, with ESPN reporting the two sides are in contract negotiations. The 40-year-old most recently led the Argentina U23 team at the Paris Olympics, where they were heavy favorites for the event. However, they took second place in the Group Stage, and exited the tournament in the quarterfinals after a feisty 1-0 loss to Thierry Henry's France.
Mas said that Messi has a key role in the hire, and that hiring a coach with an MLS resume is not necessarily a prerequisite.
"Experience in MLS would be good, but I don't think it's the principal criteria. I think it's more about how you manage the roster with unlimited potential," Mas said. "I spoke to Leo on Saturday after he and Tata spoke. I asked him what is important to you and what is important to get the best of our roster. How do we improve? Leo shared with me his thoughts, not dissimilar to what I explained.
"Without a doubt a familiarity with Leo and the other stars is an advantage in every aspect. I want Leo to feel comfortable with the new trainer and coach. We went out and spearheaded that. Leo gave me what I asked him, which is input. But that was his involvement and engagement with me."
AdvertisementGetty Images SportMessi to extend?
Messi's contract, meanwhile, is set to expire at the end of 2025, but the two parties do hold an option to extend his deal in South Beach. In an ideal world, the are hoping to keep him past 2025, as they open their new soccer-specific stadium Miami Freedom Park the following year.
“Leo and I will sit and discuss the future. As I’ve said before and I will repeat now, I would fully expect for the opening for our new stadium in Miami in 2026, after a trophy laden 2025 season, that Leo Messi will be our No. 10,” Mas said.
In 2025, Miami will have a chance at multiple trophies, including the 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, Leagues Cup, MLS Supporters' Shield and the MLS Cup.
"He's an amazing leader within this building, and that is a tribute to him as a player," Mas said. "As I've said before: he's a competitive beast who wants to win. And that's a trademark that he shares with his owners."
AFPMiami going global?
Expectations are elevated for Miami in 2025, following what team president described was a "disappointing exit" from the postseason. Not only does that include trophies, but includes the footprint of the franchise as a global team.
“We didn’t create this club just to exist. We created this club to establish excellence and to compete at the sport’s highest levels – not only in North America or in the hemisphere but worldwide,” Mas said. “And we have a great opportunity next summer at the Club World Cup, which is a beautiful challenge.”
The Club World Cup isn't their only ambition, though. Mas hopes to have Messi represent the in the Copa Libertadores.
“I would love to see Inter Miami in the Copa Libertadores, because we aspire to play against the best clubs in South America,” Mas said. “There’s also a very selfish part of me: it’s the only competition that Lionel Messi hasn’t played in."
Getty ImagesWhat next?
The club is heading into 2025 with ambition, on and off the touchline. However, they will need to revamp their roster and figure out how to adjust without a few key components in the squad.
Star winger Paraguayan winger Diego Gomez is expected to leave the club in January, with Premier League side Brighton set to bolster their attack with his signature. Luis Suarez, 2024 MLS MVP nominee and starting striker, is out of contract and the club is currently in negotiations with the Uruguayan about a potential renewal.
"Suarez has been an amazing addition to our team, what he’s done this year was spectacular," Mas said of the 37-year-old. "Jordi Alba, in my personal opinion, had the best season a left back ever had in the history of this league. We’re going to continue having the best team we can, there are no budget limitations, we will bring the best players we can from anywhere in the world."
