Inter Miami's Mascherano Fires Back at USMNT Star: "I Make the Decisions Here"
Inter Miami secured a 3–1 victory against the LA Galaxy on Saturday evening, though not all aspects are positive for the Herons.
While the triumph featured Lionel Messi's comeback from injury with a goal and assist, it concluded a week marked by rising tensions between the club's American roster members, head coach Javier Mascherano and other personnel.
On Wednesday, Miami transferred veteran goalkeeper Drake Callender to Charlotte FC, marking another USMNT-capped player's departure following earlier moves involving Julian Gressel and DeAndre Yedlin.
Presently, only 10 American players remain on the 29-man squad, reflecting a pattern that has developed since Messi joined in summer 2023.
However, tensions escalated to unprecedented heights this week when young American talent Benjamin Cremaschi voiced his dissatisfaction with Mascherano. The 20-year-old criticized his coach for irregular playing time and positional changes that have impacted the U.S. international's progress.
"I'm frustrated, I want to play," Cremaschi stated to media before the match. "I believe the most crucial aspect for me is reaching a very high standard, and to achieve that, I need minutes and experience. I've had minimal playing time in recent matches, and I don't believe it's due to my performance level.
"I arrive at games without knowing where I'll be positioned."
Javier Mascherano Responds to Frustrations
Mascherano responded to Cremaschi following the Galaxy victory, emphasizing his availability for discussions and noting his own positional flexibility during his FC Barcelona tenure when competing for playing opportunities.
"I understand his preference for central midfield. I also preferred central midfield, but during my Barcelona period, I had to play center back because otherwise I wouldn't have gotten playing time," he explained.
"My office door remains open for anyone who feels upset or unwilling to play a particular position to discuss it with me. I haven't received any direct complaints face to face. This is professional soccer. I determine where I believe each player can deliver their optimal performance."
This season, Cremaschi has featured in central midfield and both wing positions, while also covering left back for Jordi Alba during the veteran's suspension for missing the MLS All-Star Game.
Nevertheless, his 1,298 MLS regular-season minutes place him 10th on Inter Miami's roster, despite his one goal and four assists demonstrating his capacity to impact matches at comparable levels to other central midfielders, including Sergio Busquets, who has recorded zero goals and six assists across more than 2,000 minutes.
While concerns regarding Cremaschi and other American players dominated this week's club discussions, these issues will likely fade as Miami shifts attention to their Leagues Cup quarterfinal matchup against Liga MX's Tigres UANL on Thursday.