The Argentine magician is spearheading a revolution at DRV PNK Stadium, but more reinforcements may be needed when the transfer market reopens
Inter Miami have gone from being known as little more than David Beckham legacy project to the most popular MLS team on the planet in the space of just 11 months, all thanks to their capture of Barcelona legend Lionel Messi. The World Cup winner completed a free transfer to Miami after leaving Paris Saint-Germain last summer, turning his back on European football after almost two decades of unprecedented success and adulation, but instantly made it clear he wasn’t in the United States to wind down towards retirement.
With the help of former Blaugrana teammates Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, Messi went on to inspire Miami to its first-ever piece of silverware in the 2023 Leagues Cup, and although the team missed out on the MLS playoffs as the Argentine struggled with a series of injuries, the foundations were put in place for a very bright future.
Tata Martino was able to add another seven new players to his squad in the 2024 primary transfer window, including another Barcelona icon in the form of Luis Suarez and Paraguay international Matias Roja, which has only increased the level of expectation at DRV PNK Stadium.
Miami’s all-star side, who might as well be called ‘The Florida Globetrotters’ at this point, have lived up to the hype in the early stages of the 2024 season. They are sitting top of the Eastern Conference after 12 games, mainly thanks to Messi’s brilliance, and will believe they can go on and lift the MLS Cup come November.
However, the Herons may need a bit more depth to achieve that goal, and while they currently don’t have any more international roster spots left to fill, that doesn’t mean that they couldn’t maneuver themselves into a position to pick up another high-profile name.
GOAL takes a look at Inter Miami’s potential summer targets, starting with one of Messi’s former foes…
Sergio Ramos (Sevilla)
Ramos enjoyed a host of fascinating battles with Messi during his time at Real Madrid, but they became allies after he joined the Argentina star at PSG in 2021. They won back-to-back Ligue 1 titles together at Parc des Princes, with Ramos eventually admitting he sees Messi as the greatest player ever ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo.
The defender followed Messi out of PSG last summer and also generated links with Miami, but ended up returning to boyhood club Sevilla, where he has been able to play regularly again after suffering with seemingly endless fitness issues in France. The 38-year-old is set to drop into the free agency pool again at the end of the season, and it has been reported that he is on the radar of several clubs in Saudi Arabia.
However, Miami are also said to have revived their interest in Ramos, who has sent his agent to visit a number of different MLS franchises. Ramos may be well past his peak, but he’s still a solid all-round centre-half and an impressive technician, and could add extra steel to the Herons’ troublesome backline if they can get a deal over the line.
Luka Modric (Real Madrid)
Luka Modric will see his glittering 12-year career at Real Madrid end this summer, with the Spanish giants having opted against extending his contract, and it has been reported that both Miami and the LA Galaxy could make a move for the 2018 Ballon d’Or winner.
Madrid haven’t been quite as reliant on Modric in 2023-24 due to the emergence of Aurelien Tchouameni and Jude Bellingham’s outstanding displays, but he remains a world-class playmaker who can dictate the pace of any game with his unrivalled passing range.
Miami would not want for experience with Modric partnering Busquets in the base of their midfield, and together they could help promising youngsters like David Ruiz and Benjamin Cremaschi reach their potential. It would also be fascinating to see Modric and Messi in the same team, though the Croatian did famously say back in 2018 that he would “never” play with Cristiano Ronaldo’s eternal rival.
Sergi Roberto (Barcelona)
Sergio Roberto has also been tipped to join Miami’s contingent of ex-Barcelona superstars, and it has been suggested that he turned down an offer from Saudi Arabia in February because he wants to reunite with Messi in MLS.
However, a lot has changed for Barcelona since then, with head coach Xavi reversing his decision to step down at the end of the season amid an impressive upturn in results and performances, and Roberto has been pivotal to their revival. The Spaniard is still the Blaugrana captain, too, and said after their recent 4-2 win against Valencia: “We believe we can compete for everything next year.”
Barca have reportedly reopened contract extension talks with Roberto, but they remain in financial disarray, and he could still end up leaving the club in June. Miami will be on red alert in case that happens, and Roberto would easily be able to slot into Martino’s starting XI alongside his old team-mates.
Neymar (Al-Hilal)
Miami co-owner Beckham sent social media into a frenzy when he shared a photo of Neymar joining him and his wife Victoria Beckham for dinner in Miami in March, one month after the Brazilian’s admission that he hopes to play with Messi again before he hangs up his boots.
No official transfer enquires have been reported at this stage, with Neymar still sitting on the sidelines at Al-Hilal while he recovers from knee surgery, but it wouldn’t be surprising if Beckham had sounded him out over a potential switch to Florida. When fully fit, the 32-year-old remains one of the most devastatingly brilliant players on the planet, as he proved in his final season at PSG, and could potentially wreak havoc in MLS.
Realistically, though, a deal probably won’t be agreed this summer. Neymar’s physical problems are still a major concern and Miami can’t cover his lucrative salary demands, with Messi, Leonardo Campana and Busquets currently filling their Designated Player slots.
Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid)
Antoine Griezmann has repeatedly insisted that Atletico Madrid will be the last club he plays for in Europe, and described MLS as his “dream” landing spot after his time at Wanda Metropolitano ends. The 33-year-old’s versatility and creative qualities make him an invaluable asset for Atletico, but they’ve endured another disappointing campaign, and he could well decide to take on a new challenge stateside sooner than originally planned.
Miami are not the only MLS side to have been linked with Griezmann in recent months, but they’d have the edge in any summer transfer race due to the presence of all his old Barcelona colleagues, and he might want a second chance at proving he can thrive in the same team as Messi after his struggles at Camp Nou.
Griezmann also recently met Beckham in person, describing the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star as his “idol” on Instagram. Atletico wouldn’t let Griezmann go on the cheap given he still has two years left on his contract, but Miami might just be tempted to try their luck, especially if he enjoys a strong Euro 2024 with France.
Andres Iniesta (Emirates Club)
Andres Iniesta joined UAE Pro League side Emirates Club FC last summer after leaving Vissel Kobe, where he spent five years as the most high-profile signing in the history of Japanese football. Miami were also said to be in the running for the ex-Barca midfielder, and at one stage it was even reported that an agreement had been struck for him to arrive at DRV PNK Stadium, but he ended up heading to the Middle East.
Speculation ramped up again in February, though, as Iniesta posed for photos with Messi, Busquets, Suarez and Alba after returning to Japan to watch Vissel Kobe play Inter Miami in a friendly. It remains to be seen whether Miami still hold any interest in Iniesta, who will turn 40 this month, but his contract is due to expire in June.
Iniesta could be a useful utility player for the Herons if not a fully-fledged starter. Class is permanent, and very few players in the history of the game can match the Spaniard for ingenuity and mastery of the ball.
Philippe Coutinho (Al-Duhail)
Just like Griezmann, Philippe Coutinho also disappointed at Barcelona. The difference is, he has still yet to recover from the experience, and now finds himself on loan at Qatar Stars League outfit Al-Duhail.
Coutinho still has two years left on his contract at Aston Villa, but was deemed surplus to requirements for the 2023-24 campaign, and it would be a huge surprise if Unai Emery drafted him back into the squad. A permanent parting of ways is more likely, and Miami were credited with an interest in his services in the winter.
He was asked directly if a switch to Miami would appeal in February, and replied cryptically: “We never know what will happen in the future.” MLS might be the ideal place for Coutinho to rediscover his passion for the game, because he’s meandering along aimlessly at the moment, when he should still have plenty to offer at 32.
During his time at Liverpool, Coutinho was one of the most exciting players in the European game, and although it’s safe to say he’ll never reach those heights again, there is still a real player in there if he can get his mind right, and a new project with some familiar faces could be exactly what he needs.
Angel Di Maria (Benfica)
According to ESPN Argentina, Inter Miami have already opened talks with Angel Di Maria over a summer transfer, with the Argentine’s contract at Benfica set to expire at the end of the season. Martino played down the possibility of a deal when facing the media last week, but also hinted at some potential sales, which could free up room on the Miami roster for at least one more big signing.
Di Maria has been Messi’s right-hand man in the Argentina squad for the best part of a decade, and also played alongside his compatriot at PSG in 2021-22. They were an unstoppable duo during La Albiceleste’s run to glory at the Qatar World Cup and would strike fear into defences across MLS if they were to renew their partnership at club level.
Despite turning 36 in February, Di Maria has shown no sign of slowing down in his homecoming campaign at Benfica, recording over 30 goal contributions across all competitions, and he has all the attributes to complete Miami’s all-star forward line.
Nacho Fernandez (Real Madrid)
Nacho Fernandez has decided to end his 23-year affiliation with Real Madrid this summer after rejecting a contract extension. The 34-year-old’s relationship with Carlo Ancelotti is said to have been fractured amid a lack of regular minutes at the business end of the season for Los Blancos, and he is eager to take on a new experience outside of Europe.
Spanish publication Marca claims that Nacho has his heart set on MLS, which raises the possibility of a switch to Miami. Nacho is an old school centre-half who can also fill in at full-back, and his positional sense is unmatched, which would make him a valuable addition to Martino’s squad.
LAFC has also been mooted as a potential landing spot for Nacho, but the Messi factor gives Miami an edge in any transfer race against their MLS rivals. If the Herons are serious about plugging the gaps in their leaky defence, they could do a lot worse than Nacho, who has been one of the most underrated players in La Liga for many years.
