Is Inter Miami waiting while Guardiola makes time for his family?

Reports: Guardiola wants a break, Hoyos to continue at Miami

The news is out: According to multiple reports, Inter Miami will restart the 2026 season in July with interim coach Guillermo Hoyos while Pep Guardiola -- the team's supposed dream replacement for Javier Mascherano, who resigned for personal reasons in April -- takes a break from the game to spend time with his famiy.

First, Hoyos is not undeserving -- his 6-1-1 start is better than any previous Herons coach and Las Garzas' four-game win streak before the World Cup break has Inter Miami sitting second in Major League Soccer's Eastern Division. A close relationship with Leo Messi -- the all-time great calls Hoyos, who coached him in Barcelona's youth system in the early 2000s, a "football father" -- is further reason to expect Hoyos to stay on, if not permanently, until the Herons have exhausted every effort to get their preferred candidate.

"What if Guardiola has agreed to lead Las Garzas into the 2027-28 season?"

That candidate, apparently, is Guardiola. The 55-year-old Spaniard starred as a defensive midfielder with Barcelona and Spain before becoming one of the best managers in football. Guardiola managed three of the world's most elite clubs -- Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City -- winning 45 titles, including three European championships, six Premier League championships, three La Liga championships, three Bundesliga championships and four Club World Cups. He became available when City's season ended in May but remains unsigned despite Miami co-owner David Beckham's best efforts.

Reality check: It's always been unlikely that Pep Guardiola, arguably the best football coach of this or any generation, would consider coming to Major League Soccer. But let's play "What If?"

Could Beckham and Inter Miami be playing a "long game" with Guarediola? Consider:

1. The Herons' ownership group -- Beckham and the Mas brothers, Jorge and Jose -- are adept at getting what they want (See: Messi, Lionel, et al.) They have shown patience, persistence and creative use of MLS salary rules to bring in world-class players.

2. Inter Miami hasn't hired Hoyos to be "the" manager, only confirmed that he will continue as the interim while the search for Mascherano's replacement continues.

3. Guardiola didn't rule out ever coaching Miami; he reportedly turned down a massive offer from Beckham in order to take some time away from the game and spend time with his family.

4. Messi has said Guardiola is the best coach with whom he's ever worked; Guardiola calls Messi the greatest player of all time. The two led Barcelona through its most successful era, winning two Champions League titles, three La Liga titles, two Copa del Rey trophies and two Club World Cups between 2008-2012. Although many years have passed, it's easy to believe both men might want to recreate that magic.

5. Miami's season resumes with a home game against Chicago on July 22. Leagues Cup kicks off in August, and the MLS Cup playoffs run from Nov. 18-Dec. 18. Then, after a two-month break, a 14-game "Sprint Season" will be played between February and May 2027 to bridge the gap to Major League Soccer's first fall-spring schedule, which kicks off in July of that year.

So, here's my dream -- Inter Miami's motto is "Freedom to Dream," right? What if Guardiola has agreed to lead Las Garzas into the 2027-28 season, with Hoyos acting as a placeholder until Pep's ready to step in? Guardiola would have about a year to travel, relax and recharge, and Inter Miami would have at least one season of Guardiola coaching Messi. Everybody's happy, right? Except the rest of MLS.

Will it happen? Probably not, but I didn't believe the Beckham-Mas team could sign Lionel Messi, either; I've never been more happy to have been wrong. So, COULD it happen? Why not?

Stay tuned.

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