Front-office changes at Inter Miami, plus how to watch preseason game vs. Universitario

Inter Miami underwent another front-office change last week as Guillermo Hoyos, a longtime Lionel Messi associate from his youth days in Barcelona, had his role expanded from director of player development and methodology of the second team to being directly involved in scouting and roster construction of the first team.

Hoyos, 61, takes that responsibility after the departure of sporting director Chris Henderson, who went to Atlanta United, and director of scouting Mark Prizant, who is at San Diego FC.

Raul Sanllehi remains president of football operations but is not in charge of personnel matters. His focus is on the overall operation of the club from the academy to the second and first team to coordinating the club’s participation in preseason tours, Concacaf Champions Cup, Club World Cup and other events.

GiveMeSport reported that Sanllehi was reassigned within the club and replaced by Hoyos, and that during the team’s recent trip to Las Vegas, Sanllehi and Messi had an argument on a player/coach team bus.

Multiple team sources told the Herald that Hoyos was replacing Henderson’s role, not Sanllehi’s, and would not confirm or deny the bus incident.

Hoyos, 61, coached Messi from 2000 to 2003 on the Barcelona Under-18 team, and Messi said in a 2010 interview that Hoyos was his “footballing dad.” Hoyos played for Real Madrid B team, Boca Juniors and Everton between 1981-1993 and has coached in South America, Europe and briefly in the NASL.

Notes: Recent signees Tadeo Allende and Telasco Segovia are awaiting visas; and it is unknown if they will be available for Inter Miami’s game Wednesday night in Lima, Peru against Universitario. Allende is an Argentine forward who was signed on loan from Spanish club Celta Vigo. Segovia is a Venezuelan midfielder who came from Portuguese club Casa Pia…. Inter Miami is negotiating a deal to sign Uruguayan defender Maxi Falcon, who plays for Colo Colo, according to MLS sources… Wednesday’s game will be streamed on Inter Miami’s channels. Go to intermiamicf.com for more information.