Lionel Messi is apparently getting a new coach after Inter Miami’s surprising first-round exit in the MLS. Fellow countryman Gerardo Martino apparently wants to step down. A press conference is planned for Friday.
Gerardo Martino, former Argentina national team coach, had taken up his post at the Florida franchise in the summer of 2023, just before Messi’s arrival. It was thus a reunion with “La Pulga”; the two had previously worked together at FC Barcelona and in the national team.
That season Martino led Miami to the play-offs as the regular season winners, with 74 points, a league record. However, in the hot phase of the season, they were surprisingly knocked out in the first round by Atlanta United. Nevertheless, Miami received a wild card for the Club World Cup 2025.
Official confirmation is still pending
However, Miami will compete there without coach Martino, the 61-year-old is leaving the club for “personal reasons”, as a source told the AFP news agency on Tuesday.
Although an official confirmation is still pending, Inter Miami announced on Tuesday that Martino would hold a press conference with club co-owner Jorge Mas and president Raul Sanllehi next Friday.
Meanwhile, eight-time world footballer of the year Messi still has a contract in Miami until the end of 2025.