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Lionel Messi’s impending arrival at Inter Miami is set to change the face of the club and Major League Soccer. But Messi might just be the beginning.
Speculation has already begun that his former club teammates from his time in Europe, plus others from the Argentina national team could be candidates to follow.
Messi, now 35 years old, has a number of former teammates from all over the world who could be in contractual situations that would allow them to link up in South Beach. Inter Miami would likely need to open up Designated Player spots on the roster to make multiple moves, but that would be a formality.
The Sporting News has compiled all the rumors and reports of Messi’s friends possibly following him to Inter Miami.
MORE: Watch MLS Season Pass on Apple TV at 50% off the full-season price
Sergio Busquets to follow Messi to Inter Miami?
The player most likely to be joining Messi in Miami is his old Barcelona teammate Sergio Busquets.
According to a number of reports immediately after Messi’s signing, including Graeme Bailey of 90min and MLS Spanish-language broadcaster Carlos Suarez, Busquets has agreed to join the club and will be announced in the days following Messi’s announcement. Tom Bogert of The Athletic then reported the following day that Busquets to Inter Miami is “expected to happen.”
Then, a few weeks later, it gained more legs as Fabrizio Romano reported on June 19 that Busquets is “discussing the final details of the contract” with Inter Miami, with a two-year deal likely to arrive shortly. Busquets reportedly would be named as a Designated Player, meaning Inter Miami must also shed one of their three DP’s.
Busquets is in the perfect position to switch clubs, as he is departing Barcelona in June 2023 at the expiration of his contract. The 34-year-old spent his entire career at Barcelona, and is widely considered one of the greatest midfielders of all-time.
Lionel Messi AND Sergio Busquets have sensationally agreed to join Inter Miami, 90min understands.
The former Barcelona duo will link-up again in Major League Soccer.@90min_Football / @90min_us
— Graeme Bailey (@GraemeBailey) June 7, 2023
MORE: When will Lionel Messi debut for Inter Miami? Looking at possible dates
Luis Suarez to sign for Inter Miami with Messi?
According to MLS Spanish-language broadcaster Carlos Suarez, Messi’s former Barcelona teammate Luis Suarez could also be a candidate to join him at Inter Miami. Also reporting that Suarez is in the mix is TyC reporter Gaston Edul, and Tom Bogert of The Athletic also said it’s “possible” that Suarez could link up.
Since departing Barcelona in 2020, Suarez has bounced around clubs, as his career winds down. Now 36 years old, Suarez has spent time with Atletico Madrid and Uruguayan side Nacional before joining his current team, Brazilian club Gremio.
Suarez’s Gremio contract doesn’t expire until December 2024, but that could reportedly be worked around. According to Bogert, Suarez has a release clause in his contract that could be triggered, and while the exact details of the clause aren’t known and it’s unclear if a transfer fee would be required, it’s possible that Inter Miami could force this move if they wish to, and Suarez is willing.
According to Turkish transfer journalist Ekrem Konur, Suarez rejected a contract offer from Inter Miami in late May, but the club is preparing an improved offer.
However, word filtered out on July 20 that Luis Suarez could instead retire, due to chronic knee pain. A report by German Garcia Grova of TyC Sports claimed that Gremio wished to sign Suarez to a new contract, complete with an “anti-Inter Miami” clause. However, instead it seems that Suarez has a mind to retire due to his injury.
Sergio Busquets y Luis Suarez los que están más cerca de acompañar a Messi en @InterMiamiCF Jordi Alba y Ángel Di Maria también son pretendidos #MLS #Messi #MLSSeasonPass
— Carlos Suárez (@CarlitosSuarez) June 7, 2023
Could Angel Di Maria, Jordi Alba join Inter Miami?
Also mentioned in a few of the reports are Messi’s Argentina teammate Angel Di Maria and his former Barcelona teammate Jordi Alba.
Di Maria spent the 2022/23 season with Italian club Juventus, but has departed as a free agent with the season concluded. Alba, meanwhile, has left Barcelona as a free agent after 11 years at the club, in similar fashion to Sergio Busquets.
TyC reporter Gaston Edul and MLS Spanish-language broadcaster Carlos Suarez have both mentioned Di Maria and Alba as possibilities, stating they are “wanted” by the MLS club, but have not gone further than that. These moves would make sense if only Inter Miami could make the financials work within the strict league salary rules. That might be too much to ask if Busquets and Suarez are also in the picture, because it would be tough to bring any of these players in without a Designated Player slot for each one.
Fabrizio Romano also reported that Alba was “in negotiations” with Inter Miami in his post discussing the likely arrival of Busquets.
However, Romano also reported on June 20 that Di Maria was “closing in” on a one-year deal with Portuguese side Benfica, with negotiations “at final stages.” It seems that the 35-year-old will remain in Europe at least for another year.
Finally, another report from TyC journalist Cesar Luis Merlo stated that in addition to the others already mentioned, Leandro Paredes could also be a candidate to arrive in Miami. The 28-year-old Argentine midfielder will see his contract expire in June 2023, thus making him a free agent.
Inter de Miami va a llevar jugadores para armar el equipo con Leo Messi:
Van a iniciar gestiones por Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba y Luis Suárez.— Gastón Edul (@gastonedul) June 7, 2023
source https://donprosper.com/who-will-join-lionel-messi-at-inter-miami-sergio-busquets-luis-suarez-angel-di-maria-linked-to-mls-move/
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