Gerardo "Tata" Martino, the newly appointed manager of Inter Miami, addressed the arrival of Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets to the club, emphasizing their competitive drive. Martino, who previously coached both players on the Argentina national team, dismissed the notion that their move to Miami was solely for leisure.

During his introductory press conference, Martino stated that conversations with Messi and Busquets revealed their shared ambition to achieve success and compete at a high level. He acknowledged that Miami is often seen as a vacation spot but stressed that their intentions are purely focused on winning.

"We talked about arriving to have success, to compete and compete well," Martino affirmed, according to the New York Post. "Sometimes we associate the United States, Miami, with holidays — this isn’t that. We want to compete."

Messi's decision to join Inter Miami came despite lucrative offers from Saudi Arabia and interest from his former club, Barcelona. The arrival of Messi and Busquets sparked rumors of Martino's appointment, given their existing relationship and his proven track record in MLS, including winning Coach of the Year in 2018.

Martino's familiarity with the players from their time together with the Argentina national team and Barcelona offers a sense of continuity and understanding within the team. However, he clarified that discussions with Inter Miami predated Messi and Busquets' decisions, stating, "I always found this opportunity attractive ... let’s just say that the presents arrived next."

Inter Miami currently faces a challenging situation, holding the last position in the Eastern Conference standings with a 5-13 record and a string of seven consecutive losses. The arrival of Messi and Busquets, along with Martino's leadership, is expected to revitalize the team and propel them towards a more competitive standing.