David Beckham appointing former Argentina star who consoled crying Lionel Messi on debut as new Inter Miami boss

INTER MIAMI are set to appoint Lionel Messi’s ex-Argentina team-mate Kily Gonzalez as their new manager after Guillermo Hoyos’ brief spell as interim boss. David Beckham‘s side are bringing in the former Inter Milan star amid the team’s five-game winless streak, according to Fabrizio Romano. Inter Miami are reportedly set to appoint ex-Argentina star Kily Gonzalez Credit: Getty Gonzalez (not pictured) consoled Lionel Messi after he was sent off on his Argentina debut in 2005 Credit: AFP And their new coach might have a positive impact thanks to his relationship with their talisman Messi. Gonzalez, now 52, was in the Argentina squad when Messi was sent off on his debut against Hungary in 2005. Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! Messi was devastated at the time and left in tears in the dresing room after his dream debut became a nightmare. The Barcelona legend revealed it was Gonzalez who consoled him on one of the most difficult days of his career. He said: “I remember touching the ball two or three times at most, I didn’t understand anything when I was sent off. “It was a really tough moment for me because of everything my debut, my first match, meant. “I went into the locker room crying, they couldn’t stop me. I remember Kily telling me, ‘Don’t worry, the same thing happened to me and I kept playing for the national team’. “And that’s exactly what happened, I’m still playing a million matches for the national team. Most read in Sport BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK Messi previously said he remembers how ‘affectionate’ Gonzalez was during his dark moment Credit: Getty Gonzalez played against Miami owner David Beckham when England played Argentina in 2002 Credit: Shutterstock Editorial “Kily was very affectionate at that moment, he stuck to me, he looked after me. He and everyone else, but I especially remember his words.” Of course, Messi has gone on to claim 207 caps for Argentina with 125 goals. He became one of their best ever players after winning the World Cup in 2022. Gonzalez is familiar with Inter Miami owner Beckham after playing against him during Argentina’s clash against England in 2002. He will become the fourth straight Argentinian manager Inter Miami have had since July 2023 – when Messi first joined the club. Messi initially worked under ex-Barca boss Tata Martino before Javier Mascherano – his old team-mate at the Camp Nou – took over. But despite leading Miami to the MLS Cup last year, he left in April, leaving Hoyos to take over on an interim basis. Gonzalez takes the reigns having previously coached Argentine clubs Rosario Central, Union de Santa Fe and Platense. Comment now