A reunion with fellow countryman Lionel Messi will now be possible thanks to Inter Miami’s appointment of former Barcelona and Argentina coach Gerardo Martino as the team’s M.L.S. head coach.

Messi was coached by Martino, also known as “Tata,” for both his country’s national team and the Spanish club.

He formerly worked in Major League Soccer with Atlanta United, when they won the championship in 2018. His most recent position was as Mexico’s manager.

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“We are very happy to be able to welcome Tata to Inter Miami.

“We feel he is a coach who matches our ambitions as a club and we’re optimistic about what we can accomplish together,” said Inter Miami Managing Owner Jorge Mas.

“Tata has coached at the highest levels and we believe that experience will be hugely beneficial to us as we aim to compete for titles here,” he added.

Following his decision to leave Paris Saint-Germain at the end of his contract, Messi announced earlier this month that he would be joining Miami, which is co-owned by David Beckham.

Messi played for Argentine club Newell’s Old Boys under the direction of the 60-year-old Martino when he was a student.

The South Florida club also anticipates concluding the signing of Sergio Busquets, a Spanish midfielder who was one of Martino’s former Barcelona players.

“I’m very excited to join a big club like Inter Miami and I know together we can accomplish many great things,” said Martino.

“The club has the necessary infrastructure to be a major competitor in the region and I believe that with everyone’s hard work and commitment we can get there,” he said.

In Paraguay, where he coached the national team to the runners-up finish in the 2011 Copa America, Martino made his imprint as a coach.

After making an impression at Newell’s, he led Barcelona for a season in 2013–14, then took charge of the Argentine national team for two years until joining Atlanta in 2016.