Lionel Messi back in Inter Miami training as coach Hoyos gives cryptic response on his return

Inter Miami is entering one of the most important stretches of its season. The Herons host the Columbus Crew at Chase Stadium on Saturday before turning their attention to the Leagues Cup just a few days later, a tournament they famously won with Lionel Messi leading the way in 2023.

Now, after helping Argentina reach the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, Messi has returned to training with Inter Miami, giving the club a major boost ahead of a demanding schedule.

Head coach Guillermo Hoyos spoke to reporters about Messi’s return, Rodrigo De Paul’s arrival back from international duty, new signing Casemiro, and the condition of Germán Berterame following the frightening collision he suffered during a recent match.

Hoyos on Messi and De Paul’s return

“We’ve started talking. They just got back, so we haven’t really had the opportunity to sit down and have a proper conversation yet. But we’re very happy to have them back at the club. It makes me happy to see them here,” Hoyos said, also referring to De Paul.

Inter Miami preparing for a packed schedule

Hoyos acknowledged that balancing MLS and Leagues Cup commitments will be a significant challenge.

“It’s very difficult because of the number of games. There is very little time to recover. It’s basically play, recover, and do it all over again. It’s a demanding schedule, and that kind of workload really takes a toll on the players.”

Casemiro already fitting in

The Inter Miami coach also praised Casemiro, who recently said one of the reasons he joined the club was the chance to play alongside Messi.

“He’s doing very well. He’s integrated into the group. He wanted to come here, and he wants to play with Messi. I think it’s important to recognize that publicly. We’re grateful he chose us, and hopefully everything goes very well for him.”

Positive update on Germán Berterame

Hoyos also provided encouraging news on Berterame after the striker’s scary on-field collision.

“He’s doing very well. He’s still going through the medical process, but he’s doing well. We’re all very happy about that. Honestly, it gave us quite a scare. We were really worried, but thankfully everything is going very well.”

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