Miami is headed by Messi’s ‘football father’. Outmaneuvered Mascherano — Leo and Cristiano

Dictator Messi?

Inter Miami has a new coach: Guillermo Oyos has replaced Javier Mascherano. Before this, Guillermo spent a year as Inter’s sports director, and prior to that, he was the club’s development director for a year and a half. Perhaps Oyos’s success in Miami is linked to his experience at Barcelona, where he coached a very young Leo Messi and became his «football father.»

Mascherano suspiciously left «for personal reasons». It seems there was a conflict between him and Oyos

Mascherano unexpectedly left the position of head coach on April 14, citing «personal reasons». It’s unlikely he was so disappointed by the results: before that, Miami drew 2:2 with New York, and they haven’t lost in a month and a half. After seven rounds in the MLS, they are third in the East – it doesn’t seem like a situation where a coach needs to leave.

It seems the issue lies in internal conflicts. Miami split into two factions, one led by Mascherano, the other by Oyos. American insider Erasmo Provenza shared details: «Oyos, since joining the club, spent some time laying the groundwork to reach the current position. He fired people from their positions, from the main team to the academies, to put his own people in place and consolidate power.»

And it was Oyos who replaced Mascherano in the position – he won the behind-the-scenes games. Guillermo is incredibly happy – here’s his interview after the appointment: «Inside me, there’s a bomb, a huge feeling. I believe, not just believe, I’m living for this right now. It’s a huge blessing. I’m holding on to it.»

However, Guillermo thanked Javier – the conflict remained private. «Mascherano did so much for the club. He brought us the MLS title, and I have respect and gratitude for the entire coaching staff. I don’t interfere in his personal decisions. We are grateful for the time he spent here and for the lessons he taught us.»

And, of course, Oyos separately noted the opportunity to coach Messi. «Coaching the best player in history is something incredible. I am very grateful for this opportunity.»

Oyos called Messi the «new Maradona» back in 2003. Guillermo climbed a tree to watch Barcelona’s training

Guillermo and Leo have known each other since 2003, when Oyos took charge of Barcelona’s youth team, where young Sergi Busquets, Pedro, and Gerard Piqué played alongside Messi. Oyos immediately recognized Messi as the successor to Diego Maradona. Here’s how Guillermo described his meeting with Leo in an interview with Clarin: «That day I realized he was different. We were playing futsal, and he had a speed I had only seen in Diego. A few weeks later, I had a meeting with the management, and I told them that Messi was Maradona, that they shouldn’t waste time. I feel like those words weren’t mine, but that I was instructed to say them from above.»

Oyos is generally one of Messi’s biggest fans worldwide. Here’s another quote from Guillermo about Lionel: «Messi is the player who has made the strongest impression on me in my life. He is a wonderful person who teaches us how to live through his actions. He is an example of simplicity and humility.»

Messi also greatly respects Oyos. After the appointment, he said: «He helped me a lot when I arrived in Barcelona, he was always there, giving me advice, teaching me, and doing everything possible for me to be where I am today.» It’s no wonder Oyos is called Leo’s «football father.»

Guillermo is also an incredible fan of «Barça». He emigrated from Argentina to Spain in 1999 and immediately went to a «Barcelona» training session, which was then managed by Louis van Gaal. However, Oyola was not allowed in, so the Argentine climbed a tree near the field to watch. Fantastic enthusiasm.

But there’s an unexpected twist – as a player, Guillermo Oyola played for «Real Madrid»! In 1981, the Madrid club bought him from «Talleres», but due to the limit on foreign players, they sent him to the reserves. However, in the 21st century, Oyola’s sympathies definitely belong only to «Barça» and especially Messi.

After «Barça», Oyola managed to play for as many as 17 teams from various countries: he played in Cyprus, Bolivia, Greece, Colombia, Argentina, Chile, and Mexico. Among his achievements are only two trophies: he won the spring part of the championship in Chile and an off-season tournament in Bolivia. Guillermo also has experience in the USA, which was unsuccessful – he played for «Jacksonville» in the second division and averaged 0.79 points per game.

It seems that he was invited to «Inter» precisely because of his connections with Messi, rather than his sporting achievements.

In «Miami», the third consecutive coach is a protégé of Leo

For the third time in a row, an Argentine has been appointed as the coach of «Miami». Previously, it was a club of «MU» legends – owned by David Beckham and coached by Phil Neville. Now the team is named after Leo Messi.

In 2023, alongside Leo, Gerardo Martino joined the club, one of Messi’s favorite coaches throughout his career. The coach worked with Leo at «Barcelona» in the 2013/14 season and with the Argentine national team from 2014 to 2016. Martino didn’t achieve much success either in Catalonia or with the national team. With «Barça,» he only won the Super Cup, and with Argentina, he secured two Copa America silver medals. In «Miami,» he also fell short of the top — with Gerardo, the team only won the 2024 regular season and the minor Leagues Cup.

After Martino, Javier Mascherano arrived — one of Messi’s key on-field partners. Together, they played both at «Barça» and for Argentina. Before «Miami,» Mascherano only coached Argentina’s youth national teams, but his limited experience didn’t hinder him: it was with Mascherano that «Inter» reached their first-ever MLS Cup.

Now, Oyos will be in charge.