Gerardo Martino, the new coach of Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, said that Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets did not come to the team for “holidays.”
Tata, a teacher with a lot of experience, will work with the pair again. He managed them at Barcelona during the 2013-14 season.
The 60-year-old, like his two new charges, has a resume that could have gotten him more important jobs, but he has been quick to shut down rumors that anyone is taking it easy in Florida.
Tata told reporters at his first news conference, “When we talked to Leo, and yesterday I talked to Sergio, we talked about coming to win, to fight well.
“This happens to us, too. Sometimes we think of the United States and Miami when we think of vacations, but this isn’t that.
“We want to be in the game. They are not football players who will come here and not play.
On a personal level, the smart manager is about to start his second job in the United States. In 2018, he led Atlanta United to their first-ever MLS Cup win.
Messi had worked with him before at both Barca and Argentina, so it seemed like he had been asked about the job, but talks had been going on for a while.
He said, “I started the talks before Messi and Busquets joined the team.”
“I’ve always been interested in this chance. Let’s just say the gifts came after that.”
Phil Neville’s job as manager has been taken over by Martino. Neville, a former England defender, was fired at the beginning of this month.
Messi is still on track to make his Miami start in the middle of July. He hopes to help his new team move up the Eastern Conference standings and get off the bottom spot.