Santos are reportedly set to appoint a coach who previously coached Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami.

Since welcoming Neymar back in the winter transfer window, Santos have yet to show a significant improvement in form. This has led to the team’s board of directors firing coach Pedro Caixinha and considering appointing a new coach in the coming period.

According to TyC Sports , Santos has officially sent an offer to Gerardo Martino, the coach who resigned from Inter Miami at the end of last year. During his time with the Argentine strategist from mid-2023 to the end of 2024, Messi and the stars won two titles: Leagues Cup and Supporters’ Shield.

In addition to Martino, Santos’ board of directors have also targeted several famous names in Brazil, including Tite and Dorival Junior, two former national team coaches of this country, but both are said to have turned down the job. Similarly, Jorge Sampaoli, who led Argentina at the 2018 World Cup, is also not too keen on leading a team with the presence of Neymar. In that context, Gerardo Martino is emerging as the most likely candidate.

Gerardo Martino is arguably the coach who understands Lionel Messi better than anyone else. The two have worked together at three different clubs, starting with Barcelona. He took charge of the Catalan club during the 2013/14 season, which was also Neymar’s first in Europe. However, the season ended in disappointment and Martino decided to resign shortly afterwards.

Shortly after, he was appointed head coach of the Argentina national team, staying there for two years. During this time, Martino impressed with his clear tactical philosophy, but was unlucky in major tournaments. Argentina lost to Chile in two consecutive Copa America finals in 2015 and 2016, both after cruel penalty shootouts.

Seven years later, Messi and Martino reunited at Inter Miami. In an effort to help the Argentine superstar play at his best, the club’s management recruited not only Messi’s former Barcelona teammates Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, but also a coach whom he had always trusted. This worked well as within a year and a half, Inter Miami won two important titles.