Jordi Alba: Javier Mascherano is demanding of Inter Miami squad, Lionel Messi included

Inter Miami left-back Jordi Alba is delighted to be working again with his old friend and new coach Javier Mascherano, while knowing their relationship must now be different from their time as team-mates at La Liga giants Barcelona from 2012 to 2018.

“We had a good friendship when we played at Barcelona,” Alba tells The Athletic. “They were successful years. He played left centre-back, so we were beside each other on the pitch all the time. Now the relationship must change. He’s the coach, we have to respect what he tells us.”

That “we” includes fellow Miami stars Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets and Luis Suarez, who also played at Barca with Mascherano — with all four in the team that won a famous treble of the Champions League, La Liga and the Copa del Rey in 2015.

“Even back then you could already see (Mascherano) was going to be a manager,” Alba says. “The way he trained, he was always very demanding, on himself and others. He was a really intelligent player, very competitive, and set very high standards. As a team-mate, he was spectacular, he helped Barcelona a lot, despite not playing in his natural position. ‘Busi’ was there, so he had to adapt to centre-back, and he did it really well. He was an example for all the young players back then.”

Miami hired Mascherano from his former job as Argentina’s under-20s and under-23s manager to replace Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino, who resigned after winning the MLS Supporters Shield last season but then falling at the first hurdle in the play-offs.

“Players who worked under him with Argentina’s youth team also told me he was a very good coach, who was always on top of his players,” Alba says. “That will be good for us, to be switched on for the whole season.”

---

Alba joined Miami in July 2023 after 11 seasons at Barcelona, where he won 18 trophies, including six league titles. Reuniting with Messi and Busquets was a draw, but the “exciting project” pitched by co-owners David Beckham and Jorge Mas was also attractive.

“I could see that ambition when I spoke with the owners before signing,” Alba says. “All of us — not just Luis, Leo and Busi — know we have to fight for every trophy. (Beckham) is really involved, you can speak to him about anything, which shows the type of guy he is. It’s going well, the club is growing, step by step, and we’ve had the opportunity to win two trophies.”

Within a month of arriving, Alba, Messi and Busquets scored in a dramatic penalty shootout as Inter Miami won the 2023 Leagues Cup final against Nashville SC. The left-back ended his first full season in MLS with four goals and 15 assists, an attacking contribution that earned him a place in the official 2024 MLS Best XI.

1, 2, 3, 4… estamos en octavos de @LeaguesCup!!! GRANDEE EQUIPO!! pic.twitter.com/5IrwCX8dVr

— Jordi Alba (@JordiAlba) August 9, 2024

“It’s a bit different in MLS than at Barcelona,” he says. “But when I arrived, honestly, I found the level was pretty good. Teams playing us tend to sit back and defend. It’s practically the same as what used to happen at Barca.”

JORDI ALBA FOR THE LEAD @InterMiamiCF // Audi #MLSCupPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/1TexkMpTM3

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 26, 2024

Shared experiences in almost 30,000 minutes on the pitch together over their careers have helped Messi and Alba often link up to get through those packed defences. During 375 games so far (per Transfermarkt), they have combined directly 41 times for goals — 29 times with Messi finishing from an Alba assist, and Alba scoring 12 goals directly set up by Messi.

“I’ve had the good fortune to know Leo for a long time, we understand each other perfectly,” Alba says. “On the pitch, just by exchanging a look, we know what the other will do. I’m really happy to be back playing together.”

A dream return for Messi!

Two goals in the space of a few minutes & Miami are flying. pic.twitter.com/9yQonEwrIL

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) September 15, 2024

During Messi’s first full season in MLS, he chipped in with 23 goals and 13 assists in 25 games across all competitions. This was despite every opponent knowing the danger posed by the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.

“Other teams try everything they can to stop Leo,” Alba says. “In the end, stopping him is difficult. But they show a lot of respect to him, to all of us. For them, it’s also a privilege to be able to play against Leo. It’s not every day you get to share a pitch with the best player in history.”

After joining Miami in January 2024, Suarez contributed 25 goals and 12 assists in 37 games across four competitions for Miami last term. Even at 38, the Uruguayan knows exactly where to be and what to do in the rival penalty area.

“Luis has been scoring goals, and giving assists, his whole life,” Alba says. “He’ll always have that ability until he retires. You don’t lose that. The energy that the younger players bring helps us. We’re all able to help each other.”

Miami’s strategy has involved surrounding veteran stars with younger talents, including Argentine midfielders Federico Redondo and Facundo Farias (both 22), and homegrown midfielder Benja Cremaschi (19).

“The years pass for everyone, but physically I felt very good,” Alba says. “We veterans who went there are still really motivated to keep competing, keep helping Inter Miami all we can. There are also people (in the team) with lots of energy, younger players who can run but are also technically good. It’s a really good mix for the group.”

That mix clicked as Martino’s team won the Supporters Shield, topping the table after the MLS regular season with a record 74 points.

The first round play-off against Atlanta seemed to be going to plan when goals from Messi (off an Alba assist) and Suarez brought a 2-1 victory in the opener. But Atlanta levelled the series by winning the return. Atalanta won the third game 3-2 to advance to MLS’ Eastern Conference semifinals.

“Over the three games, we were the better team, but we made some mistakes,” Alba says. “It was a tremendous disappointment. We were really expecting to win and cap the good season we’d played. But we shouldn’t forget where we’re coming from. We’ve improved a lot as a team over the last 18 months, won two trophies, and beat the MLS points record. That shows we’ve done a lot of good work.”

---

During his 18 months in the U.S., Alba has also been enjoying life off the pitch. Along with Messi, Suarez and Busquets, he attended a Miami Heat vs Boston Celtics NBA game in April 2024. Their families have enjoyed trips to Walt Disney World and other attractions. After over a decade of every move being noticed and analysed in Barcelona, relative anonymity in daily life has been welcome.

“That’s why we went to Miami, to keep playing, and for that experience on a personal level with our families,” Alba says. “Where we live, it’s very quiet. You appreciate that after so much time without being able to walk down the street unrecognised. I’ve had a chance to go with my family and get to know different places. Being all together (with Messi, Busquets and Suarez) makes things much easier. Our families meet up all the time, too. It’s really nice.”

After spending the Christmas period back in Barcelona and taking in his former team’s final La Liga game of 2024 against Atletico Madrid, Alba was back in Miami when official 2025 campaign preparations began on January 11. The season proper begins with a CONCACAF Champions Cup tie against Sporting Kansas City over two legs on February 18 and 25. The MLS regular season opener is against New York City FC at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale on February 22.

The move to MLS saw Euro 2012 winner Alba retire from international football, but he is still conscious of needing to manage playing time through a season, especially having seen former Spain team-mates Dani Carvajal and Rodri suffer long-term injuries in recent months.

“There are more games than ever before, here and in Europe,” he says. “The player really has to look after their body, their fitness. We always want to play, but everything has to be weighed up. We’ve been seeing lots of injuries, too, and it’s not easy. In MLS, sometimes you need to rest, there are games every week, and different competitions, some new for us.”

The newest is the 2025 Club World Cup, which Inter Miami kick off against Al Ahly of Egypt on June 14. Mascherano’s side then face Brazilian side Palmeiras and Portugal’s Porto in Group A, with two teams progressing to the last-16 knockout round.

“We know the Club World Cup is a tough competition, with many top teams and players,” Alba says. “But why not dream, try to compete to our maximum and give some joy to our fans, to our owners, and to ourselves? We know it’ll be difficult, but we’d like to win some games and get out of the group.”

FIFA’s decision to award the hosts’ spot in the Club World Cup to Miami came after their Supporters Shield win, but before elimination from the MLS Cup, eventually won by LA Galaxy.

“I don’t think they made the decision just so that Leo could play,” Alba says. “It’s good for the tournament — but also we were the most consistent team through the season. In the end, neither we nor Inter Miami make that decision. They chose us and we’re delighted to represent MLS as well as possible in this competition.”

Such ambassadorial responsibilities are part of the job for Alba and his former Barca team-mates at a club that in five years has gone from a start-up to a global brand.

“When I arrived, you could see the club had only been going for five years, but also the growth potential,” Alba says. “Leo’s arrival was especially fundamental. We’ve helped Inter Miami become much better known in the United States and around the world. You see it a lot on the road — the fans at all clubs love us. And we really appreciate the support we get at our stadium. We want to keep competing, keep improving and bring the club as far as we can.”

Alba’s contract was extended for another year in December, meaning his deal now runs until the end of 2025. Ideally, the plan is to stay for the new Miami Freedom Park stadium opening for the 2026 season.

“I’d love to play at the new stadium, all of us, with Leo, Busi and Luis,” he says. “It’ll be spectacular. As of today, I’m just going year by year, to see how I feel physically, mentally. So we’ll see, but yeah, it’d be great.”

(Top photo: Nathan Ray Seebeck / Imagn Images)