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Messi has already had his say on Inter Miami's potential Neville replacement

talksport.com, 27 June 2023, 10:00
Inter Miami's next possible manager Gerardo Martino has already been given Lionel Messi's seal of approval.

The 60-year-old is in talks to replace Phil Neville in the dugout at the DRV PNK Stadium following the Englishman's sacking earlier this month.

Should he take over the struggling MLS outfit, he would once again link-up with Messi, who has already announced he will be joining the American side.

Though the 36-year-old will not be in action for Inter Miami until later in the summer as he is currently on holiday in his hometown of Rosario.

But he has been keeping himself in tip-top shape, as shown by his first half hat-trick in Maxi Rodriguez's farewell game on Saturday night.

After the match between Newell's Old Boys and Argentina, he shared an embrace with Martino, who has managed both sides.

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Martino confirmed negotiations with David Beckham's club following the exhibition, as he simply stated: "We're talking with Inter Miami."

And should he opt for a new adventure in America after guiding Atlanta to the MLS Cup in 2018, ex-Barcelona boss Martino could count on Messi for the third time in his career.

In his only season under Martino's tutelage in the 2013/14 campaign, Messi scored 41 goals in all competitions.

After being sacked at the Nou Camp having failed to win a major trophy, Martino instantly took charge of Argentina - a role he held for two years.

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Speaking in 2013, Messi gave a glowing review of Martino, who left Newell's Old Boys after winning the Argentine top-flight title.

With Martino under pressure in Catalonia at the time, Messi said: "I like Tata Martino.

"He is a great coach and he showed that in the Clausura (a tournament in Argentina) with what he did for the team, the way it ended and how he did it.

"He gets his teams playing well and we all respect him."

Martino made the move to the MLS in 2016 after resigning at Argentina following their Copa America final defeat to Chile on penalties.

And after winning the MLS Cup, he took over as Mexico's national team manager - where he guided them to CONCACAF Gold Cup success in 2019.

His contract came to a conclusion at the end of 2022 following the World Cup in Qatar where Mexico failed to make it out of their group.

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