Gerardo "Tata" Martino insisted the decision to leave Inter Miami after just two seasons was his own, stressing that he needed to spend the first six months of 2025 in Argentina for a personal matter. He admitted his exit was bittersweet considering the potential for success at the club.

“It was tough, because in my view it was still a project with a lot of potential, a lot of room to grow,” Martino told The Athletic in his first public comments since leaving MLS. “It was a personal matter that led me to step down and not complete the final year I had left, which would’ve been 2025. Being [in Miami] was going to demand at least the first six months of this year from me, so there was no way I could stay on."

Martino recalled his conversation with Lionel Messi about his exit. The Argentine forward was influential in the coach joining Inter Miami.

“I called Leo and told him I had a personal need to be in Rosario, that the first half of the year was going to be complicated for me,” Martino said. “Once I explained that it wasn’t a health issue, that it was just a very difficult personal matter behind my decision, he felt more at ease - with the necessary discretion. It wasn’t something to discuss in detail, just to communicate a decision. After that, I went through it with the club’s leadership and then with the players.”

Martino is one of MLS's most successful managers, having won 53 percent of his league matches, the Supporters' Shield with Inter Miami and MLS Cup with Atlanta United FC. Since his decision to leave MLS, the 62-year-old has been linked with several jobs, especially in South America, including the Boca Juniors role.

He says he's open to jobs in South America, but would also consider a return to MLS.

“I’ve used the break to readjust a bit,” he said. “And now we’re waiting to see what comes next.”

However, the manager hopes the league will consider changes to improve its product, and says teams are often penalized for having success and are too reliant on designated players - pointing to the LA Galaxy and the injury to Riqui Puig as an example.

“If you’re thinking about growing internationally, it could use some tweaks,” he said. "There needs to be some flexibility to help maintain competitive teams. When you have a successful season and then the next year you have to face, say, the Club World Cup or the CONCACAF (Champions Cup), you end up saying, ‘Now I have more important competitions but a weaker team than last year.’

"I think some of these rules probably need to be reviewed.”

Martino also discussed Luis Suarez's suspension, handed out after he instigated a brawl at the end of the Leagues Cup final.

“You hope situations like that never happen,” Martino said. “But I know [Suárez]. I’ve been around him. We’ve worked together, we’ve won, we’ve lost. I don’t feel the need to defend him blindly. I know the kind of person he is. I’m not saying that what he did is justified or not; what I’m saying is I know him.

“On the field, a lot of things happen that can make someone lose their composure a bit, and they might show something that isn’t really who they are. But it happened, and now unfortunately, he has to deal with it and suffer the consequences.”

Inter Miami, now managed by Javier Mascherano, return to action against Charlotte on Saturday.