David Beckham appoints new Inter Miami manager who once admitted he taught Lionel Messi ‘nothing’ at Barcelona
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INTER MIAMI have appointed former Barcelona manager Gerardo 'Tata' Martino as their new head coach.
The 60-year-old joins the MLS side following a three-year stint with the Mexico national team.
Speaking about the new appointment, club co-owner David Beckham told club media: "Tata is a highly respected figure in our sport whose track record speaks for itself.
"We are confident that his achievements in the game and experience as a head coach will inspire our team and excite our fans and look forward to seeing the impact he will have on and off the field."
Martino is set to reunite with Barcelona legends Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets, both of whom signed for Inter Miami in free transfers earlier this month.
The Argentina-born manager coached the duo during his time at Barcelona during the 2013-14 campaign.
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However, he once admitted that his time at the Nou Camp was a total failure because he brought "nothing" to the club.
In an interview with Argentine newspaper Clarin in 2014, Martino was asked what he added to Messi's game.
He responded: "Nothing. Nothing at all. Not to him or to Barca.
"I didn't make any mark on Barcelona, it was a bubble in my career in terms of what I did as a coach.
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"I went to a team that always won and didn't win anything while I was there. The 'Supercopa' is next to nothing for Barcelona.
"All I learned in Barcelona was about being surrounded by stars, by the best in the world.
"I made some monumental mistakes with Barcelona."
Messi and Busquets are expected to make their debuts against Mexican club Cruz Azul on July 21.
