Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano has expressed his strong desire for Lionel Messi to renew his contract with the club, stating that this would provide tranquility for fans and everyone associated with the team.

'As a coach, I want him to renew his contract as soon as possible so that the news can be shared quickly, especially to bring peace of mind to the fans and everyone around the club,' Mascherano said on Friday. 'I'm not involved in the negotiations and cannot comment on them.'

These remarks follow his earlier statement on May 18, where he expressed hope for positive updates on Messi's potential contract extension.

According to ESPN, negotiations between Messi and Inter Miami are still ongoing.

The club is currently focused on recovering from a difficult stretch, having lost five of their last seven games across all competitions, with their most recent win against the New York Red Bulls on May 3.

Mascherano emphasized the need for the team to work together on and off the field to return to winning form.

'We have used this week to focus on areas for improvement, and it has been very productive, though not different from our ongoing efforts,' Mascherano said.

'We took advantage of the extended week for more intense training sessions. Importantly, we must address our confidence, as the team has lost some confidence recently.

'Football has an emotional element; training is key, but it's about how we approach games. We have discussed this with the players, and overcoming this challenging period is within our control.'

Defender Ian Fray revealed that after the team's 3-0 loss to Orlando City, key players like Suarez and Messi spoke up to guide the group.

'After one of the games, they [Suarez, Messi, and others] talked and said we need to turn this around because we're not in a good spot,' Fray said.

'We're all taking accountability for it. It was a calm, normal discussion among teammates facing a tough moment.'

Inter Miami will next travel to face the Philadelphia Union at Subaru Park on Saturday night.