Lionel Messi's newly appointed manager at Inter Miami has insisted the Argentine superstar has not moved to the United States "for a holiday".
Messi is edging closer to being unveiled as Major League Soccer's newest superstar, along with his close friend and former FC Barcelona teammate Sergio Busquets.
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The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner recently stated that he is unlikely to participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, by which time which he'll be 39 years old.
As such, the attacker hinted at giving it his all for his new club, while it was also recently reported that he has asked Albiceleste boss Lionel Scaloni for some time off from national team duty so that he can focus on adapting to his new environment in America.
While this certainly suggests that the former Paris Saint-Germain star is committed to his new cause, Inter Miami's new manager Gerardo "Tata" Martino, who previously managed Messi at Barcelona and with Argentina, has now insisted that the playmaker is not there to relax but to compete, according to the New York Post.
Speaking at his first press conference, Martino said: "When we spoke with Leo, yesterday I spoke with Sergio, we talked about arriving to have success, to compete and compete well.
"This happens to us even on a personal level, sometimes we associate the United States, Miami, holidays – this isn't that.
"We want to compete… they are not footballers who are going to come here to not compete.
"... I started the talks [to join Inter Miami] before [the additions of Messi and Busquets].
"I always found this opportunity attractive… let's just say that the presents arrived next."
"That the best player in the world decides to play in this league, obviously it will open up an even better panorama for that growth.
"I believe that the United States is not a country that misses out on this type of opportunity."