Photo via Inter Miami CF
Inter Miami’s search for a new coach is already one of the most compelling storylines in MLS this season. Guillermo Hoyos stepped in as interim manager following Javier Mascherano’s resignation — and the early message from inside the organization is clear: stability first, big decision later. Meanwhile, reports from Argentina link the club strongly with former Barcelona manager Xavi Hernández as their preferred permanent appointment. Saturday’s trip to Colorado, however, comes before any of that gets resolved.
Setting the Record Straight on Mascherano’s Exit
Before looking forward, one thing deserves addressing directly. Social media spent the days following Mascherano’s departure generating conspiracy theories — alleged fallouts with Luis Suárez, Rodrigo De Paul, and Germán Berterame all circulated widely. None of those claims are accurate.
The primary driver behind Mascherano’s exit was the CONCACAF Champions Cup elimination. The club built its entire January transfer window around winning that competition. When the coach fails to deliver on the organization’s stated primary objective, a departure becomes the natural consequence — regardless of results elsewhere. As we covered in our [Mascherano resignation piece], he accepted full responsibility for the Nashville exit himself.
Reports of arguments between Messi and Mascherano after difficult results have also emerged. Those conversations happened — but heated exchanges between competitive professionals after tough losses are entirely normal at elite level. Messi and Mascherano share a friendship and mutual respect that stretches back decades through their time together with Argentina. That bond did not fracture. The CONCACAF exit, not any personal rift, ended Mascherano’s tenure.
Hoyos Steps In — Stability Over Revolution
Guillermo Hoyos is not walking into a rebuild. He inherits a squad that still carries significant expectations, still has Lionel Messi at its center, and still believes it should be judged by elite standards. Hoyos leaned into that himself this week, stating clearly that Inter Miami belongs among the biggest clubs in the world. The standard has not dropped simply because the coaching staff changed.
David Beckham reinforced that message publicly, indicating the club wants to let things settle before committing to a permanent appointment. Miami are not rushing this decision. That measured approach suggests the organization has learned from previous managerial transitions — and that whoever comes next will arrive with a proper pre-season and full preparation time rather than being parachuted in mid-campaign.
One factor that could make this transition smoother than expected is familiarity. Hoyos has history with Messi dating back to Barcelona’s academy system. He acknowledged this week that working alongside him again is something he genuinely values. That pre-existing relationship matters. A completely outside appointment dropped into this environment mid-season would carry far greater risk.
Hoyos has also wasted no time putting his stamp on the training ground. A new initiative already underway sees the squad split into three competitive teams during sessions, with individual goalscorers tracked. Messi currently leads that internal chart with four training goals — sharing a side with Berterame — while Suárez and De Paul feature on a separate team. It is a small detail, but it signals intent from a coach trying to inject freshness and competitive edge into a group that has just absorbed a significant psychological jolt.
According to reports, Hoyos will remain in charge at least until the World Cup this summer, giving him several months to make his case before the club finalizes any long-term appointment.
Inter Miami New Coach Target — Xavi Hernández Returns to the Picture
The permanent coaching search, meanwhile, has a clear frontrunner. According to TNT Sports Argentina, Inter Miami are strongly interested in appointing Xavi Hernández as their next head coach. Marcelo Gallardo has also been mentioned as a candidate — but Xavi is the preferred option within the organization.
What makes this particularly interesting is the history. Inter Miami came very close to appointing Xavi in 2024 following Tata Martino’s departure. Multiple sources confirmed at the time that Xavi and Mascherano were the two leading candidates, with Xavi initially ahead in the process. Miami ultimately went with Mascherano. Two years later, the same name has emerged at the top of their list again.
Xavi’s coaching credentials at Barcelona were mixed — a Champions League quarterfinal and a Liga title among the highlights, before a difficult final period led to his departure. However, his understanding of positional football, his relationship with the Spanish-speaking dressing room, and his deep personal connection with Messi from their years together at Barcelona make him a genuinely compelling fit for this project. If Miami can land him this time, it would represent one of the most significant managerial appointments in MLS history.
The Noise Around the Bench — And How the Players Are Processing It
Ian Fray addressed the squad’s reaction to Mascherano’s exit honestly this week. The players were surprised by the change. Absorbing a managerial departure mid-season is never easy — routines shift, trust needs rebuilding, and every player suddenly feels the need to prove themselves to a new set of eyes on the training pitch.
That dynamic typically produces one of two outcomes. Either the squad responds with a short-term emotional lift — a collective determination to perform for the new manager — or the uncertainty creates a slight disjointed quality as players try too hard to impress simultaneously. Both outcomes are entirely human responses to an unsettling situation.
Hoyos’ job in Colorado this weekend is to make sure Miami land in the first category rather than the second. Clear messaging, a settled lineup, and a team that looks organized and purposeful will go a long way toward establishing his authority quickly.
Colorado — A Brutal First Test
The timing of Mascherano’s departure could hardly have been more difficult from a fixture scheduling perspective. Inter Miami’s first match under Hoyos takes them to Colorado — one of the most challenging road environments in MLS — against a Rapids side that enters the fixture in genuinely strong form.
Colorado have scored 12 goals and conceded just three across their first three home league games. Their recent 6-2 demolition of Houston and a U.S. Open Cup victory over Union Omaha underline a team with real confidence and momentum. Altitude adds another layer of difficulty for visiting sides unaccustomed to playing in those conditions.
Miami arrive with 12 points from seven games — level with Colorado in the standings. The Herons are unbeaten in their last six regular-season matches. Messi leads the team with five league goals. Telasco Segovia tops the assist chart with four. Berterame, as covered in our [NYRB match report], finally opened his MLS account last week — a development that could prove significant if Miami need more attacking balance around Messi in the coming weeks.
The only previous meeting between these sides came in 2024 — a 2-2 draw in which Messi scored for Miami. History, however, counts for very little in Colorado’s altitude.
Availability concerns add further complication. Sergio Reguilón and David Ayala both stayed behind in Miami through injury — removing depth at a moment when Hoyos could have used a full squad to choose from. As covered in our [Inter Miami scoring problems analysis], defensive vulnerability in transition has been a persistent issue all season. Without Reguilón’s presence on the left, that exposure could worsen against a Colorado side built on quick, direct attacking play.
What Saturday Will Tell Us
Saturday’s result will not answer every question surrounding Inter Miami’s managerial situation. However, it will provide the first genuine evidence of how this squad responds to upheaval — and whether Hoyos can hold the group together through one of the most turbulent weeks the club has experienced since its formation.
A composed performance and a positive result in Colorado would immediately strengthen the case for giving Hoyos time and space to build his own identity within the organization. A flat, disjointed showing would accelerate the noise around the permanent appointment and put pressure on the club to act faster than they would ideally like.
Inter Miami remain in contention for four major trophies in 2026. The talent is there. The stadium is open. The fanbase is engaged. What this club needs now — more than anything — is clarity, calmness, and a winning performance on Saturday to remind everyone, including themselves, what they are actually capable of.
Hoyos has his moment. Colorado awaits.
