Messi’s next steps should be guided by ‘silence’, says Inter Miami coach Hoyos

Inter Miami head coach Guillermo Hoyos has called for Lionel Messi’s privacy to be respected as the club captain returns to football following the death of his father, Jorge Messi.

Jorge Messi died on 8 August at a hospital in Rosario, Argentina, aged 68.

Speaking on Friday, as reported by ESPN, Hoyos said Messi was dealing with profound grief and should be allowed to recover at his own pace.

“I believe everything must move forward and develop gradually; there is deep pain inside the player, and that is something that cannot change overnight,” said the Argentine coach.

Hoyos added: “Therefore, I believe silence is the best approach at the moment; silence, calm and tranquillity, so that he can find his own space. Our duty is to stand by him and share that silence, because silence is extremely important to me and ultimately helps a person find their way to move forward. He is truly a wonderful person and has a wonderful family.”

Messi travelled by plane to his hometown of Rosario on Saturday evening, where Argentine media reported that he attended a private memorial service for his father. He subsequently returned to Miami, rejoined Inter Miami’s training sessions and featured in Wednesday’s Leagues Cup match against Leon at New Arena.

The 39-year-old began that game on the substitutes’ bench before coming on at half-time to play the second 45 minutes. He received a standing ovation from supporters as he entered the field.

Hoyos praised Messi’s commitment to the club while also making clear that he viewed the player’s character as more important than his footballing contribution.

“There are no words that do him justice; I cannot find a description that conveys his value as a human being. We are not talking here about his value as a footballer, but about his value as a wonderful person with a big heart… words are sometimes completely insufficient,” he said.

Messi took part in a full team training session on Friday alongside his Inter Miami team-mates as they prepared to face Nashville in Major League Soccer at Geodis Park on Saturday.

Asked how he would manage Messi’s playing time and communicate with the captain in forthcoming matches, Hoyos again stressed the importance of giving him space and avoiding unnecessary discussion.

“There are matters that are extremely personal and deep, just as every one of you has your own personal matters. If I came to you and asked a series of personal questions, your answer would be: these are private matters,” Hoyos said.

He added: “That is why I talk about silence, a value that many people do not appreciate; people like to talk and constantly express opinions. But for me personally, it is about genuinely respecting those boundaries. He is simply a human being going through difficult circumstances, which is completely natural, and we respect that to the greatest possible extent.”

After Saturday’s match against Nashville, Inter Miami will travel to face Philadelphia Union on Wednesday.