Lionel Messi may have retired from sports, but Tata Martino maintains the Argentine legend is not taking a “vacation” in MLS or Inter Miami.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner relished World Cup victory in Qatar 2022, allowing him to grab the one big prize that had escaped him up until that moment. Messi already has a slew of personal and collective honours, and there appears to be nothing else for him to do. He has, however, made the choice to leave Paris Saint-Germain as a free agent, and Martino, who has been chosen the new head coach of Inter Miami, wants Messi and fellow new signing Sergio Busquets to take life in America seriously.
WHAT THEY SAID: Martino has said of Messi taking on a new challenge at the age of 36: “When we spoke with Leo, I spoke with Sergio, we talked about arriving to have success, to compete and compete well. 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.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE: Messi is set to reunite with former Barcelona team-mate Busquets in Florida, with Martino insisting that he had already agreed to return to MLS before those stunning deals were done. He added: “I started the talks before [the additions of Messi and Busquets]. I always found this opportunity attractive…let’s just say that the presents arrived next.”
IN THREE PHOTOS:
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WHAT NEXT? Manchester United and England legend David Beckham has helped to deliver those presents, in his role as co-owner at Inter Miami, with additions clearly required in a squad that continues to languish at the foot of the Eastern Conference – 11 points off the play-off pace.