Inter Miami could have nothing to play for before Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets land in the Sunshine State, with the MLS franchise sat bottom of the Eastern Conference and 11 points off the Playoffs.
Seven-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi, 36, stated his intention to join Inter Miami at the end of his Paris Saint-Germain contract in a shock move, snubbing the riches on offer in Saudi Arabia as well as a potential return to Barcelona, where he spent close to two decades playing.
Messi has yet to put pen to paper on an Inter Miami contract yet but is expected to do so in the next month with final terms being decided. The legendary forward is expected to earn a percentage of Apple TV+ MLS Season Pass sales as well as a cut of Inter Miami shirt sales from Adidas.
Inter Miami has, however, announced the signing of Messi's former Barcelona teammate, Busquets , on a free transfer after the midfielder departed Camp Nou following this season's La Liga title win.
But before serial winners Messi and Busquets can work their magic, Inter Miami may have nothing to play for, with the club rooted to the bottom of the Eastern Conference after 18 games. Without a long-term manager following the sacking of Phil Neville, Miami has collected just 15 points, with their latest fixture ending in a 4-1 defeat to Philadelphia Union.
The team is a whopping 11 points off the final playoff spot, which is held by ninth-place DC United, who are managed by Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney. Miami does, however, have two games in hand but an upturn in results looks unlikely with the franchise without a win in the MLS in seven games.
Messi's potential debut for Inter Miami is being touted for July 21 against Cruz Azul in the Leagues Cup but before that game, the team will play four unforgiving fixtures against Austin, Columbus, DC United, and Western Conference leaders St. Louis.
The Argentine World Cup-winning captain is back in his hometown of Rosario at the minute. He returned to boyhood club Newell's Old Boys' stadium, where he was greeted by tens of thousands of adoring fans, for the testimonial of ex-international teammate, Maxi Rodriguez. Messi starred alongside the likes of World Cup final goalscorer Angel Di Maria, and other stars from Argentina's past and present.
Messi scored a hat-trick in the game but he was unable to help Argentina to victory, with the team losing the friendly affair 5-7 despite the magician netting a show-stopping free-kick.
