Third Barcelona legend set to join Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets at Inter Miami
Posted Friday, July 07, 2023 by Dailystar.co.uk
Inter Miami are reportedly close to adding another ex-Barcelona legend to their ranks to join former team-mates Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets in MLS
Lionel Messi looks set to be reunited with former teammate Jordi Alba at Inter Miami (Image: Getty Images)
Inter Miami look set to bolster their squad further by adding former Barcelona left-back Jordi Alba to their squad.
David Beckham's MLS side have already been incredibly proactive this summer, landing Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets after their contracts with Paris Saint Germain and Barcelona ended.
Like Busquets, Alba is also out of contract having left Barcelona. The Spanish defender had been rumoured to have offers from Saudi Arabia but is now reportedly set to head stateside to join Messi and Busquets.
According to the Miami Herald, Inter Miami will announce Alba's arrival at the club in the very near future, possibly as soon as Friday. In moving to MLS, Alba would also be reunited with his former Barcelona coach, Gerardo 'Tata' Martino too.
Martino coached the left-back during the 2013/14 season and was recently unveiled as Miami's new coach following the sacking of Phil Neville earlier this year.
With how MLS works when it comes to salaries, the 34-year-old will be taking a monstrous pay cut to play for the worst team in the Eastern Conference so far this season.
Alba looks set to be reunited with Sergio Busquets and Lionel Messi (Image: Getty Images)
Alba and Busquets both left Barcelona at the end of last season (Image: NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Just three players are allowed to be deemed designated players, a tag which means their wages are exempt from a teams salary cap.
With Messi and Busquets already taking up two spots, one spot remains available. However, the Herald report midfielder Leo Campana will take up that third spot.
Andres Iniesta could be set to join Alba at Inter Miami too (Image: Getty Images)
Last term, Alba earned a whopping $24 million (£18m) during his final year with Barcelona. That is a wage Miami will not be able to pay Alba, meaning the Spaniard will be force to take a greatly reduced salary.
During his time at Barcelona, Alba won countless honours, winning six La Liga titles, five Copa del Rey crowns and the Champions League back in 2015.
And alongside Alba, it has also been reported former Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta could be set to join the Catalan takeover of Inter Miami too, after leaving Japanese side Vissel Kobe.
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