Javier Mascherano will be happy to see some familiar faces as he looks to undertake his first managerial season as a club manager.
The Argentine was appointed Inter Miami manager following the exit of Gerardo Martino. Mascherano confirmed he had spoken with Lionel Messi before taking the job.
One of Mascherano’s biggest early challenges will be convincing Lionel Messi to extend his contract which runs until December 2025.
Luis Suarez has signed a new deal and spoke openly about his thoughts of having former teammate Mascherano as his manager.
Suarez shares respect for Mascherano
Several Inter Miami stars were former teammates of Mascherano including Messi, Suarez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets.
Inter Miami are also linked with another former Barcelona teammate Neymar, who handed the Herons a major boost in recent days over a potential signing.
Suarez, who finished as the club’s joint top-scorer with 20 MLS goals, spoke about his respect for his former teammate and now manager Mascherano during the MLS Media Day.
He said: “It’s weird to have him here today as our coach, but the respect we have for him and his technical staff [is there].
“He’s the one who will be making the decisions and we have to not see him as a teammate from before but as someone who’s makes the decisions for the guys that still play on this side of the ball.”
Mascherano’s early Inter Miami stages
Although Mascherano is yet to take charge of an Inter Miami match he knows exactly who his first league opponents will be.
Inter Miami have a tough home game against New York City FC, a side that has caused the Herons no end of problems in their history.
Mascherano has seen the club draw some tough Club World Cup opponents, and he has been looking to make some signings in preparation for the tournament.
The new Inter Miami boss did admit that he was “worried” about the lack of new signings but the Herons did complete a deal for Casa Pia’s Telasco Segovia.
While Inter Miami fans will be hoping to win the MLS Cup this year, Mascherano has played down the team’s chances of success in his first season.
Mascherano’s first test will come in the side’s first pre-season friendly which sees them take on Club America on January 19th.