Javier Mascherano breaks silence after Inter Miami exit, talks Messi | OneFootball

The former coach spoke at an event in Mexico, weeks after a resignation that The Athletic linked to locker-room clashes and tensions with the Argentine captain.

Javier Mascherano spoke again and could not avoid the topic that had generated the most anticipation. Almost a month after his resignation from Inter Miami, the former coach reappeared at an event in Mexico where Barcelona and Real Madrid fans gathered to watch El Clásico, and local journalists asked him about Lionel Messi. The answer was short, firm, and loaded with context: “Good, good, he always looks good.” Three words that come weeks after a departure that was far from calm and just weeks before the start of the 2026 World Cup.

Masche’s departure from the Herons in mid-April was officially presented as a decision for “personal reasons,” but according to The Athletic in a report by Tom Bogert, the background was more turbulent. The trigger was reportedly an argument in the locker room after the draw on the weekend before the resignation, amid an atmosphere of unrest that had been building since the round-of-16 elimination from the Concacaf Champions Cup at the hands of Nashville SC.

The outlet described the dynamic between the Little Chief and Messi as intense but not unusual between two figures of that caliber: “They often argued or had heated discussions, but some sources insist that this is normal behavior between two world-class athletes.” The bond forged over years with the Argentine national team and Barcelona gave Mascherano the confidence to challenge the captain and answer him back bluntly.

Beyond Messi, the former midfielder also sounded optimistic about Argentina’s chances at the 2026 World Cup: “Hopefully they can win the title again; that’s what all Argentines want. Argentina has a team that is in very good form, and that creates great expectations.”

Regarding his own future, Mascherano did not close the door on Liga MX: “If the opportunity comes up, why not? It’s a competitive league with good players, strong teams, and entertaining matches.” He also highlighted the presence of several Argentine coaches in Mexican soccer as another reason to follow that competition closely.

Mascherano was the fourth coach in Inter Miami’s history, and under his leadership the club won the MLS Cup in 2025. At the time of his resignation, the team was in third place in the Eastern Conference. Among the candidates to replace him, the Miami Herald and Sports Illustrated mentioned Xavi Hernández, as well as Argentines Marcelo Gallardo, Hernán Crespo, Martín Palermo, and Matías Almeyda.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.