MIAMI — Javier Mascherano’s introductory meeting with the media as Inter Miami coach on Tuesday opened with a revelation from managing owner Jorge Mas: The legendary Argentine defensive midfielder came extremely close to joining the club in August 2019 for the final year of his playing career in 2020 with the intention of shifting into a coaching role.

In fact, Mascherano told the Miami Herald that he signed a contract with Inter Miami that summer but backed out because his father-in-law was ill in Argentina, and he did not want to make the move without his wife and family.

“The main reason [the deal fell through] was that my-father-in-law was sick, my wife didn’t want to move to Miami because she wanted to stay with her father,” he said. “I was [playing] in China at that time, so it was going to be difficult for me to move alone. I tried to explain to the club [Inter Miami], 'Sorry, but if I have to move alone that is impossible.’ They understood the situation.”

Mascherano then smiled and added: “I think I was the first player to sign, but never played for Inter Miami.”

Five and a half years later, he joins the team as its fourth coach, replacing Tata Martino, the runner up for MLS Coach of the Year, who resigned unexpectedly a few weeks ago for personal reasons.

Mascherano, nicknamed “El Jefecito” (The Little Boss), reunites with former FC Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba. He takes over a team that broke the MLS record for points in a season, won the Supporters’ Shield for best regular-season record, but fell short of expectations with a first-round playoff exit.

“We’re very aspirational and we have enormous trust in Javier leading us to the heights we want, and this is, frankly, a journey with Javier,” Mas said. “In August of 2019, Javier and I were in my office in Miami. We spent a whole night together talking ... we were doing a multi-layer deal with him playing his last year and then coaching.

“I always admired him as a player and thought he would be an amazing mentor to our young players in our opening season. Five years later, he’s here. So, it’s fate.”

Mascherano, 40, is known for his leadership qualities but has never coached a professional team and has no MLS experience. He spent the past three years coaching Argentina’s Under-20 team and coached the Under-23s in the Paris Olympics.

This is what Mascherano had to say in his news conference and in an interview afterward with the Miami Herald.

— Q: Everyone knows about your remarkable career as a player, but skeptics say you don’t have much coaching experience, have no MLS experience, and this is a high-pressure, high-profile job. So, what would you reply to those doubters?

— A: Obviously, the public can have their opinion, and it’s valid but I am convinced I am capable of coaching this team. I am very excited to do so. [Coaching] experience, in football, isn’t that important to me. I spent three years coaching the Argentina youth national teams, which does carry pressure. I value the 20 years I played and everything I have lived. I have no doubt I can do this job. But in the end, no matter what I say, the results and the season and what people see is where the opinion will emerge as to whether the skeptics were correct or wrong.

— Q: How will your friendship with Leo Messi affect how you do your job as coach?

— A: “The relationship I have with Leo, I have never denied and never will. We have been friends the entire time we played together and have know each other a long time. There are three others on the roster whom I have played with a long time [Busquets, Suarez, Alba] and I have very close relationships with them. I am not going deny that. I am not going to walk in the locker room and not be their friend. I can separate my work from my friendships.”

— Q: How do you evaluate the team and what areas do you think need to improve?

— A: The season can be divided into two parts, and it depends how you want to view it. The regular season was extraordinary, breaking records, but the other part, the more decisive part, was the playoffs, and in those few games, it happens, you lose and go home. You have to look at the whole movie, not just one part of the photo. Overall, the team was very successful, even in the stretch when Leo [Messi] was out injured. We have a very good roster, and with a few adjustments, we will continue to be successful.

— Q: How closely have you been following Inter Miami since the summer of 2019?

— A: I didn’t keep in touch with Jorge, but Inter Miami started to compete, Gonzalo Higuain came to play. He was my teammate on the national team. I watched him, and then when Leo [Messi] came, I think everyone in the world watched Inter Miami.

— Q: What is your personal goal in taking this job?

— A: I want to prove that I am capable of leading this team. I was not expecting this job right now. I was focused on the Argentina U20s. It caught me totally by surprise. When an opportunity like that comes along, you have to be brave, take it and embrace it.

— Q: Growing up, did you play any other sports, or was soccer your first love?

— A: Soccer is my first and only love ... in sports. Family is most important. I have three children, they are most important. Lola is 18, Alma is 15 and little Bruno is 7. He is very, very close to me. And my wife has been my girlfriend for the past 25 years.

— Q: Is your family excited about moving to Miami?

— A: We’ll see. It’s difficult because they have a life there. But they will come and go. Miami is a nice place to come three or four weeks and go back home.

— Q: Which of your coaches have become mentors?

— A: It is difficult to name just one. I was lucky that I had very, very good top coaches in my career. But maybe for changing my mind in terms on how I watch football, that was [Pep] Guardiola. I learned a lot from him but knowing that it’s impossible to do what he does.”

— Q: What was it like to play for Diego Maradona when he was Argentina’s coach and you were captain?

— A: It was fantastic. When you have a chance to play for your hero it’s an amazing experience. He was a very nice person to me.

— Q: Do you have any hobbies outside of soccer?

— A: Nothing. My life is very quiet. Very, very quiet.

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