Inter Miami, nonetheless reeling from an surprising early playoff exit, is at a crossroads. With Tata Martino stepping down as head coach attributable to ‘private causes,’ the Florida-based MLS workforce is on the hunt for a alternative. For a membership that boasts the likes of Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba, Luis Suarez, and Sergio Busquets, the following coach should not solely deal with the pressures of stardom but in addition information the workforce by what might be Messi’s closing season in Miami.
Whereas the emptiness has led to hypothesis about high-profile candidates, one title—Xavi Hernandez—has emerged prominently in rumors. Regardless of his availability, evidently the Spaniard is not going to be taking the reins at Inter Miami, however the causes for this choice are surprising and intriguing.
Following their Supporters’ Defend victory, Inter Miami was a favourite to make a deep run within the MLS playoffs. As an alternative, they suffered a shock first-round exit to Atlanta United. This disappointing finish to the season, coupled with Martino’s resignation, has left David Beckham and the Miami management scrambling for a alternative to guide their star-studded squad.
The workforce’s subsequent coach will inherit not simply the stress of managing Messi but in addition the accountability of deciding whether or not Luis Suarez, one other Barcelona legend, ought to be part of the squad or prolong his tenure. This makes the Herons’ job some of the high-profile vacancies in international soccer, drawing widespread curiosity and hypothesis.
Xavi and Barcelona connection
Xavi Hernandez’s title rapidly surfaced as a possible alternative. The thought of reuniting Xavi together with his former Barcelona teammates—Messi, Alba, Suarez, and Busquets—appeared like a pure match on the floor. Nonetheless, in keeping with Cadena SER, Xavi was by no means critically thought-about for the job.
The rationale? Tensions with a few of his former teammates. Whereas the coach maintains a robust relationship with Busquets and knowledgeable rapport with Messi, his ties with Jordi Alba are reportedly “fully damaged.”
Throughout his tenure because the Blaugrana’s coach, Xavi favored selling Alejandro Balde over Alba, encouraging the veteran defender to depart the membership earlier than his contract expired. This choice reportedly triggered important pressure, with sources describing their relationship as “not simply dangerous, however irreparable.” “Xavi and Alba’s ties are marked by damaged private {and professional} ties,” Cadena SER famous. With Messi’s affect in Miami, even a cooled relationship with the 44-year-old boss may complicate the locker room dynamics.
Why Xavi was by no means possibility
Although Argentine shops speculated that Messi himself requested Xavi’s appointment, this seems unlikely. As per Sport, Xavi’s strained relationships had been a key purpose he was not approached. Furthermore, Xavi reportedly has his sights set on a greater alternative in Europe, making the MLS job much less interesting.
Including to the thriller, Inter Miami officers had been reportedly already negotiating with one other candidate when Xavi’s title started circulating within the media. A proper announcement concerning the brand new coach may come inside days, making the 44-year-old’s appointment a non-starter.
What’s subsequent for Xavi?
Xavi stays a coveted determine within the soccer world. After leaving Barcelona in June, he has been linked to a number of high-profile roles, together with Manchester United, which finally opted for Ruben Amorim. Different rumors counsel that Qatar’s nationwide workforce might be a future vacation spot, given the veteran’s historical past within the area.
Inter Miami, then again, is wanting ahead to turning the web page with a brand new coach to make sure they capitalize on the abilities of their star-studded squad. Whereas the thought of the Spaniard managing Messi and his former teammates in Miami was engaging, the fact of fractured relationships and differing profession ambitions made it unattainable.
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