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Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images Lionel Messi has said he does not think he will go into coaching after he retires from playing but he would like to become a club owner. In October, the 38-year-old Argentina international signed a new three-year contract at Inter Miami through to 2028, beyond his 40th birthday. “I don’t see myself as a coach, ” Messi told Argentine streaming channel Luzu TV in an interview published on Tuesday. “I like the idea of being a coach, but I like being an owner. Advertisement “I want to have my own club, start from the bottom and make it big. Being able to give kids the opportunity to develop and achieve something important. If I had to choose, that would appeal to me more. ” Messi has a future minority ownership stake in Inter Miami, which means he’ll influence both the sporting department and commercial interests of the club for years to come. Apple, which committed a minimum of $2. 5billion (£1. 9bn) to a decade of MLS broadcast rights, offered him a share of subscriber revenue. Separately, the footballer created The Messi Cup, the first edition of which was held in December and pitted Inter Miami’s under-16 side against Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Manchester City, Newell’s Old Boys and River Plate at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. There are talks to invite more MLS academy teams in future editions. Deportivo LSM, the Uruguayan fourth division side owned by Messi’s club team-mate Luis Suarez, was helped launch by Messi in May 2025. “I want to thank Luis for giving me this opportunity, for inviting me to join him and share this project that he has been working on for many years and that has grown a lot, ” Messi is quoted as saying in May by ESPN Uruguay. “Being able to be a part of this is an honour. I hope to contribute everything I can to continue growing this club and to be by your side. ” Colin Millar is a Staff Writer for The Athletic. Prior to joining The Athletic, Colin was European Football writer at Mirror Football. From Belfast, he is the author of The Frying Pan of Spain: Sevilla vs Real Betis, Spain’s Hottest Football Rivalry, and he can be found on Twitter/X: @Millar_Colin Follow Colin on Twitter @Millar_Colin