Gerardo “Tata” Martino broke his silence and explained for the first time the reasons that led him to leave the Inter Miami bench. In an interview with The Athletic, the Argentine coach stated that his decision was purely personal and that Lionel Messi was the first person he told.

“I called Leo and told him that I had a personal need to be in Rosario, that the first half of the year was going to be complicated for me… Once I explained to him that it wasn't a health issue, but rather a very difficult personal matter behind my decision, he felt calmer, with the necessary discretion,” Martino explained.

The coach added that, after speaking with Messi, he informed the board and then the rest of the squad. He denied any conflict with the club's top brass and emphasized that his departure was not related to the changes in the sporting department.

A short period, titles and statistics

Martino's departure was surprising because it occurred in the midst of the team's rise. Under his command, Inter Miami played 67 matches, with a record of 35 wins, 16 draws, and 16 losses, achieving a 62% efficiency. During that time, they won the 2023 Leagues Cup, finished runner-up in the US Open Cup, and claimed the 2024 Supporters' Shield, a historic achievement for a franchise that has only been around for seven years.

“It was tough because, in my opinion, it was still a project with a lot of potential, with a lot of room for growth… It was a personal matter that led me to resign and not complete the last year I had left, which would have been 2025. There was no way I could stay,” he acknowledged.

Martino also clarified that he sees his successor, Javier Mascherano, as prepared to lead the team to conquer the MLS, a title that David Beckham's franchise has still eluded. Meanwhile, the focus in Florida is on securing Lionel Messi's contract renewal, as he was the first to learn of his former coach's departure.