Leo Messi and the Inter Miami locker room don't want Xavi Hernandez

Inter Miami will experience a big change in the coming days. Tata Martino is preparing to leave the coaching position he has held since the summer of 2023. The Argentinian, close to Leo Messi, is paying the price for elimination in the first round of the Major League Soccer play-offs against Atlanta United in the 3rd decisive match, even if “personal reasons» are mentioned to explain his departure. A conference this Friday should make this information official.

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This will be an opportunity for the co-owner of the franchise, Jorge Mas, and the director of football, Raúl Sanllehi, to say a little more about the next coach he is targeting. Presumably, it will not be Xavi Hernandez (44), whose name quickly emerged as a serious candidate to succeed Tata Martino. Free since his departure from FC Barcelona at the end of last season, the former midfielder ticked a lot of boxes, including being close to the stars of the locker room.

Messi and Alba are still at odds with Xavi

But this is in reality what de facto rules out his candidacy. Sport explains in his columns this Thursday that the relationship between Xavi and his former teammates at Barça is not that good. This is why he is not an option for Inter Miami. With Messi, the former Blaugrana metronome has always maintained a correct relationship, never beyond the professional aspect, but recently, this relationship has become strained and even cooled, assures the media.

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With Jordi Alba, ties have been completely severed since the latter's departure from Barça in 2023. At the end of his career and contract, the left side had seen Alejandro Baldé take his place in the eleven. The adventure ended badly with his coach, whom he criticized for a lack of transparency. The documentary ofAmazon Prime had even recounted a scene between the two men on this subject. “If at any time you were disappointed, especially in me, I regret it. It was nothing personal, you know thatdefended Xavi.

Busquets as sole support

It is said that the left-hander has mourned, but there is no longer any contact between the two men, neither personal nor professional. The Luis Suarez case is not mentioned, because he was never close to Xavi. They only spent one season together at Culés (2014-2015). On the other hand, Sergio Busquets is always a support. In addition to their connections on the field, the former teammates have maintained a sincere friendship which did not deteriorate when the elder managed the younger at Barcelona. This support will not be enough to fly to Florida.