What did Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino say about Lionel Messi at Barcelona?

Inter Miami are reportedly close to appointing Gerardo ‘Tato’ Martino as their new head coach, in a move that would reunite him with compatriot Lionel Messi.

Martino’s 25-year managerial career includes a single season at Barcelona during Messi’s time at the club. Barça were reigning La Liga champions when Martino took the job for 2013/14 and had just become only the second team in the history of the Spanish top flight to pick up 100 points in a season.

With Messi at the peak of his powers, and the likes of Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta and Cesc Fabregas in supporting roles, Martino was expected to secure another league title but they failed to pick up a single major honour.

Shortly after departing Camp Nou, Martino spoke to Argentinian newspaper Clarin about his time with the Blaugrana. He was not complementary about his time in charge.

“I didn’t make any mark on Barcelona,” Martino claimed. “It was a bubble in my career in terms of what I did as a coach.”

When asked what he managed to add to Lionel Messi’s performances, Martino was strikingly honest: “Nothing. Nothing at all. Not to him or to Barça.”

“I went to a team that always won and didn’t win anything while I was there.”

Can Tata Martino get the best out of Messi at Inter Miami?

Martino spent the first 15 years of his managerial career in South America, most notably with the Paraguayan national team and Newell’s Old Boys, where he won the Argentine Primera División in 2013. Newell’s was Messi’s first club, spending five years at their youth team before making the move to Barcelona.

Martino’s own move to Barcelona was certainly a step up and he inherited a team with some of the best players of their generation. However the leap from Newell’s to Camp Nou was too great for Martino and he lasted just one year at the Catalan club.

But while it may not have brought success on the pitch, it was Martino’s first opportunity to work at the real elite and it is an experience that he believes that he has learnt from.

“All I learned in Barcelona was about being surrounded by stars, by the best in the world,” he explained.

“I made some monumental mistakes with Barcelona” Martino said at the time, adding “I’ll tell you in another life”

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After his spell at Barça Martino took over the Argentine national team and led Messi and co. to two consecutive Copa América finals, falling just short in both.

But while Martino has not tasted success with Messi in the past, having an Argentinian in charge of Inter Miami could be crucial to helping Leo settle in the States when he makes the switch to MLS later this summer.

Inter Miami owner David Beckham is taking his time before deciding on the man to replace Phil Neville on the dug out. After spending big to bring Messi to MLS, their coaching appointment will be crucial to ensure that they get the most from his generational talent.