Inter Miami manager confirms interest in Busquets, Messi: “Would be a game-changer”

Speaking in an exclusive interview with The Times, Inter Miami head coach Phil Neville has confirmed that the MLS outfit are interested in signing Barcelona legends Sergio Busquets and Lionel Messi.

Busquets is in the final five months of his contract with Barcelona and is yet to begin concrete talks over a new deal despite the club wanting to keep him for another season.

Meanwhile, Messi’s contract with PSG also expires at the end of the season. Even though it looked like the 2022 FIFA World Cup winner would continue in Paris for another year, there has been a shift in stance and the former Barcelona captain could be on the move.

It has led to intense links of a possible return to Barça in the summer, while Inter Miami had also been credited with serious interest in the 35-year-old.

Confirming the same, Neville has claimed that the Barcelona legends are on the club’s agenda, to fill the designated player slots vacated by Gonzalo Higuain and Blaise Matuidi.

“I’m not going to deny [it and say] there isn’t truth in the speculation that we’re interested in Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets,” he said.

“Since I joined Miami, I think we’ve been linked with every single top player in world football. From Sergio Ramos, Dani Alves, Robert Lewandowski, Willian, Cesc Fàbregas, Luis Suárez . . . all of them you can rattle off.

“We’re always going to be linked with the best players in the world. We had Gonzalo Higuaín and Blaise Matuidi. Now we’ve got the opportunity to bring in some new designated players following their retirements,” he added.

Neville, a former Manchester United and Everton star, went on to add that Busquets and Messi could prove to be game-changing signings for Inter Miami as well as the MLS.

“We want to bring the best players in the world to this football club,” Neville said. “Messi and Busquets are the two that stand out more in recent years. They’re great players who would still be a massive benefit to this organisation. For MLS, it would be a game-changer.”

While some reports suggested that Inter Miami were favourites to sign Messi, it has since been claimed that the Argentina captain wants to continue in Europe beyond this season.

As for Busquets, Barcelona want to retain him for another season, and the 34-year-old seems open to such a possibility, although he is yet to receive a formal contract offer from the club.