Guillermo Hoyos has said his long-standing friendship with Lionel Messi will not affect his approach as he takes charge of Inter Miami CF, insisting the Argentine star will still be pushed in training.
Hoyos was unveiled as the club’s new head coach on Wednesday, replacing Javier Mascherano, who stepped down on Tuesday for personal reasons, just four months after leading the team to its first MLS Cup title.
The 62-year-old, formerly Miami’s sporting director, once coached Messi at Barcelona’s youth academy over two decades ago, and the pair have maintained a close relationship since.
“Friendship is non-negotiable. We’ve shared it for many years,” Hoyos said in Spanish at his first press conference. “But that doesn’t mean we’ll be constantly around him every day.”
Although an initial club statement suggested Hoyos would handle only the “upcoming matches,” he has since been referred to as head coach in official social media posts. Sources indicate he is likely to remain in charge until mid-year, with a new coaching structure expected before the Leagues Cup in August.
Inter Miami are currently third in the MLS Eastern Conference after seven matches this season. Messi, a World Cup winner and eight-time Ballon d’Or recipient, remains the team’s standout figure.
