With Inter Miami's owners harbouring ambitions of the club helping to catapult MLS to new heights, a host of superstars could join Lionel Messi in Florida soon.
The South Beach franchise is currently experiencing a season to forget on the pitch — languishing rock bottom of the Eastern Conference without a win in nine outings — but the impending arrival of two Barcelona icons will go some way to tempering frustrations. The Argentinian icon Messi is considered by many to be the greatest player in the history of the sport and his former teammate Sergio Busquets will bring quality and experience to a struggling group.
Former Lionesses boss Phil Neville will not be tasked with guiding the team out of the mire, however, having been dismissed last month following a torrid start to the season. Instead former Argentina and Barcelona manager Tata Martino will take the reigns at DRV PNK Stadium hoping to get a tune out what is likely to be a new look roster.
Clearly wanting to arrest the slide sooner rather than later, Vice City's chiefs are not content with bringing in just two former Camp Nou superstars this summer. In fact, according to Inter Miami's co-owner Jorge Mas, these two blockbuster signings may form part of an unprecedented spree from the fledgling outfit in the coming months.
There is no doubt, therefore, that the 60-year-old billionaire is hoping that the second half of the season will be better than the first, especially with as many as five new signings potentially in the works in total. The outspoken tycoon previously told El Pais: “Two or three more players will come.
"We spoke with Jordi Alba — while Luis Suarez has a contract and a release clause. I don't know if that will happen or not. All the announcements will be made before July 15.”
Of course, the club will have to find some way to ensure these deals fit with MLS rules in terms of the salaries, with a cap in place for all but three players for every team. To complicate matters further, Inter Miami currently has the maximum amount of Designated Players (DPs) on its roster earning in excess of the cap in question, meaning players will have to be moved on or see their salaries reduced.
This said, with the Herons' president forecasting that these sweeping changes could occur before the end of the month, Mirror Sport has taken a look at what coach Martino's first-choice starting XI could look like in the second part of 2023. First of all, the former Newell's Old Boys boss will have a dilemma on his hands when it comes to naming his first-choice goalkeeper with homegrown star Drake Callender currently the standout.
The 25-year-old has made the No.1 jersey his own this term so far, despite competition from ex-Feyenoord stopper Nick Marsman. In front of him, things do get rather interesting, however, with former Premier League mainstay De Andre Yedlin likely to keep his place at right-back, with solid centre back Serhiy Kryvtsov also boasting pedigree from his time as a regular for Shakhtar Donetsk.
At left back, former Barcelona star and current Spain captain Jordi Alba could well be reunited with his former Blaugrana colleagues at South Beach if club co-owner Mas gets his way. Rounding off the hypothetical back four, the Herons could pull off another major coup in landing the services of former Real Madrid centre back Sergio Ramos, with the World Cup winner currently a free agent after leaving PSG, as per Spanish outlet Sport.
In midfield, it is possible to surmise that current club captain Gregore could be retained to help the transition between the eras at DRV PNK Stadium, especially if his wages are reduced to free up a precious DP slot. Next to him in a double pivot, Martino will have the expertise of midfield maestro Busquets at his disposal, with his arrival likely to add some much needed presence in this side.
Slightly advanced from these two players at the base of midfield, we could see former Manchester United attacking midfielder Jesse Lingard make the switch to Inter Miami, with the free agent now training with the club after his release from Nottingham Forest. He would likely feed Josef Martinez, with the centre forward likely to be backed to rediscover the prolific form he showed at Atlanta United before signing for Miami earlier this year.
Then, Martino could well have the privilege of being able to reunite former Barcelona teammates Messi and Suarez, who would operate either side of the Venezuelan. The two scored a staggering 406 goals together during their time in La Liga and if anyone can get Inter Miami firing, it will be these two legendary marksmen.
Inter Miami's dream line-up: Callender, Yedlin, Ramos, Kryvstov, Alba, Busquets, Gregore, Lingard, Messi, Martinez, Suarez.
