Javier Mascherano claims Inter Miami were misled over Donald Trump meeting aspect
Head coach Javier Mascherano has claimed that Inter Miami were told something different to what actually occurred prior to their White House meeting with US President Donald Trump.
Inter Miami were invited to meet President Trump to commemorate their MLS Cup win at the end of 2025.
The entire squad, including Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, joined the President on-stage as he addressed the media at the White House.
Trump then presented Messi with a signed pink football.
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Speaking to the Argentinian legend directly, Trump said that Messi 'may be better than Pele', before declaring that son Barron is a 'big fan' of his.
"He thinks you're just a great person," he said. "He's a tremendous fan of yours, as well as a gentleman named Ronaldo.
"Cristiano is great. Some big champions, some great, great athletes in that sport."
Shortly after their arrival, the Inter Miami squad listened on stage as Trump gave updates on the ongoing US and Israel attacks on Iran.
Among other topics, Trump repeated his baseless claim that the 2020 presidential election was 'rigged and stolen', before he turned to secretary of state Marco Rubio and appeared to ask him to prepare for a war on Cuba.
He also discussed the Dow Jones stock market, the political situation in Venezuela, and baseball icon Alex Rodriguez.
During a media conference on Friday, Mascherano has claimed that he and his squad were told they would 'only talk about football' before their White House meeting.
He admitted, however, that the visit had been scheduled around 'two months ago', long before the US and Israel began their 'major combat operation' on Iran.
"I thought we were going to talk football," he said (via the Miami Herald).
"We complied with a protocol that is a tradition to come to the White House for being the championship team. It was planned a long time ago for the week we would play here in Washington.
"We were there a few hours, got to see a little bit of the White House, not much, what we could.
"The contact with President Trump was what was seen on TV, not much more than that.
"The White House visit was planned between a month and a half and two months ago."
Ryan Smart