Now serving as Atlanta United manager, Gerardo Martino reflected on his time coaching Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez during his stint with Inter Miami. Gerardo Martino once managed Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez at Inter Miami. Now facing them as rivals in MLS, the Atlanta United manager has reflected on his time with the Herons. On Saturday, Inter Miami and Atlanta United played out a thrilling 2–2 draw. Following the match, Martino was seen sharing an emotional embrace with Messi, reflecting on their shared history and the superstar’s recent journey. “Well, for me, it was a really nice chapter that we experienced here in Miami,” Martino said in press conference in response to Bolavip. “We were able to accomplish some of the first important things for the club. They’re two great figures, two great soccer players. “But beyond that, what I’ll take away is the relationship we built and the fact that I was able to play a small part in their careers. Obviously, I spent more time with Leo and less time with Luis, but we built a great relationship, and the greeting with both of them was simply a reflection of that.” Inter Miami eye another major trophy During his time in South Florida, Martino brought success to the Herons by leading them to the 2023 Leagues Cup title. It marked Messi’s first trophy with the club, though Martino’s tenure would not last much longer. Gerardo “Tata” Martino opened up about what it was like to reunite with Suárez and about the hug with Leo Messi that went viral around the world 🥹 pic.twitter.com/6ir9PrKpQl— Bolavip US (@bolavipus) September 6, 2026 After parting ways with Martino in 2024, Inter Miami went on to secure the MLS Cup in 2025. It was the first domestic league title in the franchise’s history, and they are now aiming to defend their crown this season. Inter Miami have enjoyed a strong 2026 campaign. While their recent form has dipped slightly, they remain near the top of the Eastern Conference, leading many to believe that a back-to-back title run is a very real possibility.
Joao Felix refused to speak with reporters after Al Nassr's first loss of the season, cryptically warning he would "expose this league" if he did. Joao Felix left reporters stunned in the mixed zone following Al Nassr’s 2-1 defeat to Al Ittihad on Friday, a result that cost Ange Postecoglou’s side their unbeaten start to the season and handed sole possession of first place to Al Hilal. The Portuguese forward, who played the full match alongside Cristiano Ronaldo in attack, appeared visibly frustrated for much of the second half, particularly after picking up a yellow card for a challenge on Al Ittihad midfielder Richard Rios that he clearly felt was harsh. That frustration spilled over once the final whistle blew. “I won’t speak to you, because if I do, I’ll expose this league,” Felix said while rushing past reporters without stopping for further comment. Whether Felix’s remarks were aimed specifically at the referee’s performance in Friday’s match or at broader officiating issues within the Saudi Pro League remains unclear, since he declined to explain himself any further before leaving the stadium. Joao Felix: “I won't speak to you, because if I do, I'll expose this league” pic.twitter.com/oMzsoQBvzO— Al Nassr Zone (@TheNassrZone) September 5, 2026 Joao Felix set to miss Al Nassr’s next match Felix’s yellow card against Rios was his fourth of the season, which under Article 12 of the Saudi Pro League’s competition regulations, triggers an automatic one-match suspension for accumulating four bookings across different matches. That means the Portuguese forward will be unavailable for Al Nassr‘s next league fixture against Abha on September 9, leaving Postecoglou to reshuffle his attacking options as the club looks to respond to its first loss of the campaign. Felix leaves the pitch frustrated with the officiating Video circulating after the match, shared by Al Nassr Tribune, showed Felix and Samu Costa clearly unhappy with referee Khaled Al-Turais’ performance as they made their way off the pitch, still airing their frustrations well after the final whistle had blown. João Félix and Samú Costa were clearly unhappy with Referee Khaled Al-Turais' performance tonight.😖 pic.twitter.com/EPxrhMN6gq— The Nassr Tribune™️ (@AlNassrTribune) September 5, 2026 The footage adds further context to Felix’s cryptic comments in the mixed zone, suggesting his complaint extended beyond his own yellow card to the officiating as a whole throughout the match.
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