Inter Miami coach on Messis retirement: Were not going to see him with Argentina anymore, so we have to enj - Diario AS thumbnail

Three days have passed since Lionel Messi said goodbye to Argentina. The No. 10 bid farewell in front of a packed, euphoric crowd at the Monumental, wearing the Albiceleste jersey for the final time and signing off with a goal and two assists. Now it’s time to switch the focus back to Inter Miami, where he is on course to win his third MVP award. To do so, however, he must continue leading the team through the final stretch of the season.

Speaking to the media, Inter Miami coach Kily González opened up about Messi’s farewell to Argentina, which he also traveled to attend, and discussed what the No. 10 means both internationally and at club level. Jokingly, González said that Messi now belongs entirely to Inter Miami.

Messi and his emotional farewell with Argentina

“For him, the national team was about putting on that jersey and the mark and legacy he left there. He’ll always be missed. Unfortunately, we’re not going to be able to see him wearing that jersey anymore, so we have to enjoy him here. Now he’s mine [at Inter Miami], so we have to enjoy him.”

Kily González on missing Inter Miami to attend Messi’s farewell

“We talked about it a lot, not only with Messi but also with the people at the club. We had a plan in place and I have people who are prepared to step in. I came back and the players were in a very good place in terms of their energy.”How he experienced Messi’s farewell

How González experienced Messi’s farewell

“It was incredibly emotional. Obviously, I stayed very close to him, but ultimately it was about him. That time belonged to him. The only thing I told him was to enjoy it, to take in all the love, not only from Argentina but from around the world, and that people were going to miss seeing him in that jersey. But today we have him, and we have to enjoy him here [at Inter Miami]. He’s ours now.”

What Messi means to Inter Miami

“He’s someone who brings something every single day and passes that on to his teammates and everyone around him. He demands that we give 100%. He’s a born competitor. You see him in every training session and you can’t believe what he’s capable of. He’s 39 and he’s constantly challenging himself, and that’s fantastic for everyone, not just his teammates but the staff and the club as well. He forces you to be better every day.

“He has left a legacy with the national team and he’s leaving a legacy here because the club changed from the moment he arrived. He’s happy, he’s enjoying himself, and I can see how much he’s enjoying it.”