Lionel Messi is ‘much happier’ and ‘a lot calmer’ since leaving Paris Saint-Germain to play for Inter Miami, according to new boss Tata Martino
- Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino has said Lionel Messi is ‘a lot calmer’ at Inter Miami
- It comes after the Argentine joined the MLS outfit following his departure from PSG
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Inter Miami boss Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino has claimed Lionel Messi is ‘much happier’ after leaving Paris Saint-Germain.
After spending two years with the Ligue 1 champions, the Argentina World Cup winner announced earlier this year that he would be leaving PSG, turning down a return to his former club Barcelona. instead at Inter Miami.
He moved to the MLS outfit on a lucrative contract that is intertwined with deals with Apple and adidas and also reportedly included an option to potentially buy a stake in the club once his playing career is over.
After the move, the 36-year-old opened up about his time in Paris noting that he was having trouble adjusting to life in France, claiming there was a rift between himself and the fans.
Lionel Messi is reportedly ‘much happier’ at Inter Miami since his departure from Paris Saint-Germain
So says his manager Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino, who also claimed that Messi was ‘a lot calmer’
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“The truth is that it was a very difficult adjustment, much more than I expected,” Messi said in an interview with BeIN sports via CNN.
“Apart from the fact that I had famous people in the dressing room and had relationships with them, it was difficult to adapt to a new change. I arrived late, I had no pre-season. I had to adjust to a new city, which was difficult for my family and for me.’
But according to his new manager and former Barcelona colleague, Martino, it appears Messi is in a much better place following his move to MLS.
‘You see it in the field; I don’t have to tell you, but he is a lot calmer, much happier,” Martino told the Argentinian press. GOAL. “Being happy also has to do with where he’s been.”
Martino previously worked with Messi when he spent a season in charge of Barcelona between 2013 and 2014, before becoming the manager of the Argentina national side the following year.
And on the field, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner has certainly impressed audiences in the US.
The Argentine striker has been prolific on the field, scoring nine goals in his six Leagues Cup appearances for the Florida-based club
With Inter Miami still bottom of the MLS Eastern Conference, Messi has scored in each of the six Leagues Cup games he has played, scoring eight goals in that time and leading his side to the final of the competition.
In fact, he played a vital role in helping Inter Miami get to the showpiece, scoring a sensational 30-yard goal in Wednesday’s 4-1 semi-final victory against the Philadelphia Union.
Since moving, the former Barcelona striker has also been enjoying life off the pitch.
He was recently pictured having dinner with the club’s co-owner, David Beckham, and teammates Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets. He also reportedly agreed to film a behind-the-scenes documentary with Apple about his move to Inter Miami.
Messi, who has scored 32 goals in 75 appearances in all competitions for PSG, could now be on the verge of winning another piece of silverware with his new club.