Javier Mascherano could not turn down the opportunity of reuniting with Lionel Messi when the Inter Miami job became available.

Mascherano was initially recruited by the team in August 2019 in what Inter Miami viewed as a two-pronged deal. He would play for the club in 2020, its inaugural season, then take over as a coach of the club's academy the following year. It didn't come together then; the timing wasn't right.

Mascherano is tasked with leading his friend and ex-teammate to an MLS Cup title in 2025 and global and regional relevance in U.S. soccer.

Mascherano will reunite with Luis Suárez, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets and Lionel Messi for the first time since 2018, when the five played for the LaLiga giants. Though the roles have since evolved, the Argentine insists the relationship with each player will help Inter Miami succeed.

- Argentina's head coach Javier Mascherano reacts before the quarter final soccer match between France and Argentina, at Bordeaux Stadium, during the 2024 Summer Olympics, on Aug. 2, 2024, in Bordeaux,

Javier Mascherano, who was Messi's teammate with Barcelona and Argentina's national team, was hired after a brisk search that only took a few days to complete.

Javier Mascherano looks forward to managing former Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba.

Inter Miami's Javier Mascherano is ready to silence the sceptics as he takes the reins with little managerial experience under his belt, he told reporters on Tuesday on rejoining his former Barcelona and Argentina teammate Lionel Messi at the MLS side.