‘I Haven’t Heard Any Complaints Face to Face’ – Javier Mascherano Says Door Is Open After Benjamin Cremaschi Reveals Frustration With Inter Miami Role

The Midfielder’s Frustration Brings a Conversation Into the Open

Inter Miami’s season has been full of drama, from Lionel Messi’s magical moments to the intense fixture list that has pushed the squad to its limits. But this week, a different kind of storyline emerged — one that speaks more about roles, relationships, and communication than goals or trophies.

Benjamin Cremaschi, the 20-year-old rising star of the Herons, went public with his feelings of frustration. Despite being one of Inter Miami’s most-used players this season, Cremaschi admitted he’s unhappy with how unpredictable his role has become under new boss Javier Mascherano.

“I go to the games and I have no idea where I’m going to play,” Cremaschi said, voicing the uncertainty that has apparently been bubbling beneath the surface for weeks.

Mascherano’s response? A mix of empathy, pragmatism, and challenge. The Argentine tactician, who knows a thing or two about adapting roles from his own playing days, made it clear: his office door is open, but decisions about positions ultimately lie with him.

What Happened: From Frustration to Front Page

Inter Miami CF v FC Cincinnati

Cremaschi has been far from frozen out. He has started 15 games this season, featuring in multiple competitions and playing significant minutes. But therein lies the tension. He is a central midfielder by trade — a No. 8 who likes to drive forward, link play, and occasionally arrive late in the box. Instead, he has been shuffled around like a Swiss Army knife: No. 6 in some matches, a No. 10 in others, even a wingback when the tactical plan demanded it.

For a young player still carving out his identity, such fluidity can feel less like opportunity and more like a loss of direction. Speaking after last weekend’s 3-1 victory over the LA Galaxy, Cremaschi made his feelings known. Though his words weren’t venomous, the message was clear: he wants more clarity, and ideally, more consistency.

What Mascherano Said: The Voice of Experience

Javier Mascherano, a man whose own playing career was defined by adaptability, responded in a way only he could.

“I understand he likes to play as a central midfielder,” Mascherano said. “I also liked to play as a central midfielder, but when I went to Barcelona, I had to play as a centerback because otherwise I had no chance to play.”

It was a pointed but instructive reminder. Mascherano himself had been forced to sacrifice his preferred role in order to survive at the highest level. That reinvention at Barça extended his career and made him an integral piece of Pep Guardiola’s legendary side.

“The door to my office is always open for anyone who may be mad or doesn’t want to play a certain position to come tell me,” he continued. “I haven’t heard any complaints face to face. This is professional football. I decide where I think each player can give me their best.”

It was both an invitation and a challenge: if Cremaschi feels strongly, he should knock on Mascherano’s door, not just speak to the media.

Orlando City v Inter Miami CF

The Bigger Picture: Roles, Reactions, and Reality

This exchange is about more than just one player and one coach. It’s about the balance between player development and team needs, between individual preference and collective strategy.

Cremaschi has every right to want clarity. At 20, these are the formative years of his career. If he’s going to grow into a regular for club and potentially country, he needs rhythm and an understanding of his role. Constantly shifting positions can stall confidence, even if it builds versatility.

On the flip side, Mascherano is tasked with winning matches, not just nurturing feelings. Injuries, tactical tweaks, and the demands of a long season mean he needs players who can slot into different areas. From his perspective, the flexibility Cremaschi offers is an asset, not a burden.

Still, the underlying issue is communication. Mascherano openly says his door is open. Cremaschi, however, felt compelled to speak publicly. Somewhere in that gap lies a lesson for both sides about honesty and dialogue.

Inter Miami CF v LA Galaxy

Cremaschi’s Role So Far: Numbers Tell a Story

Statistically, Cremaschi’s season paints a mixed picture. He has started 15 matches, logging more than 1,200 minutes across MLS and cup competitions. He has played in four different roles:

• As a No. 8 (central box-to-box): where he seems most comfortable, linking play and carrying the ball.

• As a No. 10: pushing higher, connecting with Messi, but sometimes lost in tight spaces.

• As a No. 6 (deep midfielder): offering work rate but lacking the positional discipline of a natural defensive anchor.

• As a wingback: energetic, yes, but clearly not his natural home.

His versatility has helped Inter Miami remain competitive even when injuries hit, but it has also left him in a footballing identity crisis. He’s everywhere and nowhere at once.

Mascherano’s Philosophy: Adapt or Be Left Behind

Mascherano’s comments echo an old-school football truth: adaptability is survival. The Argentine knows from personal experience. At River Plate and Corinthians, he was a classic central midfielder. At Liverpool, he thrived as a defensive destroyer, snapping into tackles and protecting Steven Gerrard. But at Barcelona, his path to minutes required a shift. He became a centerback, despite lacking the height of a traditional defender. That reinvention prolonged his elite career and won him trophies.

By using himself as an example, Mascherano isn’t dismissing Cremaschi’s frustration. He’s teaching him a lesson about evolution. Footballers, especially young ones, rarely get to dictate their roles early on. Instead, they must seize opportunities wherever they come, then negotiate their way toward their preferred position.

Inter Miami CF v LA Galaxy

What’s Next for Inter Miami?

With the victory over the Galaxy, Inter Miami sit fifth in the Eastern Conference, well within reach of the playoff race. But their focus now turns to the Leagues Cup quarterfinal against Tigres on Wednesday. It’s the kind of high-stakes match where every role matters — and where Mascherano will again have to decide how best to use Cremaschi.

The irony is that Cremaschi, despite his complaints, will almost certainly be called upon. Whether as a starter or off the bench, whether as a midfielder or something else, his energy and versatility remain invaluable.

For Inter Miami’s bigger picture, though, this situation highlights a challenge Mascherano will continue to face: balancing the egos and expectations of a squad that includes world stars like Messi, Luis Suárez, and Sergio Busquets, alongside ambitious youngsters like Cremaschi.

Final Thoughts: A Test of Growth for Player and Coach

The Cremaschi-Mascherano exchange might seem minor, but it touches on timeless themes in football. A young player wants clarity. A coach demands adaptability. Somewhere in the middle lies the growth that can elevate both.

Cremaschi will learn that frustration is part of development. Mascherano will learn that communication, especially with younger players, requires as much clarity as tactical instructions. And for Inter Miami, this is simply part of life at a club suddenly living in the global spotlight.

As Mascherano put it bluntly: “This is professional football. I decide where I think each player can give me their best.”

For Cremaschi, the challenge is whether he can prove that his best — consistently, reliably, and at the top level — is as a central midfielder. Until then, the experiments will continue, and so will the conversations.