Lionel Messi set for Inter Miami reunion with former Liverpool star as his new manager

Javier Mascherano is set to become the new head coach of Inter Miami, with the MLS side turning to the former Barcelona midfielder to lead the club following their recent playoff exit

Javier Mascherano is set to become the new head coach of Inter Miami, where he'll be reunited with Lionel Messi and his former Barcelona teammates Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba.

The MLS Eastern Conference regular season champions decided to part ways with Tata Martino after a disappointing playoff defeat to Atlanta United, which saw them lose the three-game series 3-2 in Game 3, ending their 2024 campaign.

This was a significant blow for David Beckham's franchise, who were favourites to win the MLS Cup following their impressive transfer activity. Messi, Busquets, and Alba were joined by striker Suarez in the summer, leading the team to accumulate 74 points in 34 games and score an impressive 79 goals.

Former Liverpool star Mascherano will now take the helm at Inter Miami, becoming the first ex-Messi teammate to join the MLS franchise in a coaching capacity. The Argentine pair enjoyed many successful years together at Barca and even played in the 2014 World Cup final against Germany.

Prior to his appointment at Inter Miami, Mascherano began his coaching career in Argentina's youth ranks. This will be his first senior men's club role.

Mascherano kicked off his football career in Argentina with his childhood team River Plate, before moving to Corinthians in Brazil. His performance at Corinthians caught the attention of European clubs, leading him to join West Ham alongside Carlos Tevez in a deal that later sparked controversy.

Despite his undeniable skills, Mascherano only played a few games for the Hammers before transferring to Liverpool, where his European career truly began to flourish. He made 139 appearances for the Anfield club, which led to a move to Barcelona, where he played alongside Messi, Busquets, Alba, and Suarez.

At Camp Nou, Mascherano was a consistent champion, securing five La Liga titles and two Champions Leagues. He also won five Copa del Reys, two Club World Cups, and two Super Cups.

After an eight-year stint at Barca, Mascherano moved to China in 2018 to play for Hebei China Fortune during a period when the country was heavily investing in Europe's top players. However, his time in Asia was short-lived as he returned to Argentina to end his playing career with Estudiantes in 2019.