‘Don’t know how limited Messi’s time in MLS is’: Inter Miami coach Gerardo Martino after team’s shocking ouster

In fact, as reported by the Associated Press, Messi’s $20,446,667 in total compensation from Inter Miami this season was about $5 million more than the entire Atlanta payroll. Inter Miami spent a record $41.7 million on payroll this season.

With that sort of investment, much was expected from Messi and Inter Miami. The club did win the Supporters’ Shield and post the best regular-season record in MLS history besides earning an invitation to next year’s Club World Cup.

But the club’s failure to even reach Round 2 of the playoffs will be considered a massive flop. Atlanta United stunned Inter Miami 3-2 to win their best-of-three first round playoff series in three games. As Inter Miami coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino said: “This was our biggest objective, we didn’t manage.”

Martino also revealed that he does not how long Messi would continue to play for the franchise. Messi still has one year left on his contract.

After the team’s exit, Messi walked off into the tunnel and Martino was left facing reporters.

“I actually don’t know how limited (Messi’s time in this league) is. There is a question of time passing, but I would not dare to say that it is so short. If you look at the context in which this began, it seems to me that the progress of the club is important. The comparison of the last game of last season, back in October, with today’s third game in the playoffs and this bitterness that we all have for not having progressed, is clear that the club’s objectives have been modified and I think there is no reason for the club not to continue trying next year. What happened this year, the bad and the good in general have been better than everything that happened last year and I would say even from the entire life of the club,” Martino told reporters.