Guillermo Hoyos has said his long-standing friendship with Lionel Messi will not prevent him from pushing the Argentine superstar hard in training, as he was presented as the new coach of MLS side Inter Miami on Wednesday.
Hoyos, who previously served as Miami’s sporting director, takes over from Javier Mascherano, who left the club for “personal reasons” on Tuesday, just four months after leading the team to its first MLS Cup title.
The 62-year-old Hoyos played a significant role as one of Messi’s early mentors in Barcelona’s youth setup over two decades ago, and the Argentine duo have stayed close ever since.
“Friendship is non-negotiable. We share a friendship that spans many years,” said Hoyos, speaking in Spanish, at his first press conference.
“However, that friendship does not mean that we will be constantly hovering over him or in his face every single day.”
An initial club statement indicated Hoyos would handle the team for the “upcoming matches,” but the club has since described him as head coach in posts on social media.
Club sources told AFP that Hoyos is likely to stay in charge only until mid-year, with a new coaching structure expected to be introduced before the start of the Leagues Cup in August.
After seven matches this season, Inter Miami are currently third in the MLS Eastern Conference.
Messi, a 2022 World Cup winner and eight-time Ballon d’Or laureate, remains the standout figure in Miami’s squad.
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