Since joining Inter Miami, Lionel Messi has reunited with 2 of his former Barcelona teammates – Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba. There were rumours that a few more former Barcelona players were set to join the MLS club. However, there remains a doubt as the transfer window will close in only a few days. Even so, another Argentine’s former Barcelona teammate, Arturo Vidal, has shown interest. The Chilean said he would love to join his former teammates and coach Gerardo Martino at Miami.
Arturo Vidal and Inter Miami have not agreed upon any deal as of yet. However, talking to TNT Argentina, Vidal said, “I would happily go and play with Messi. With him it’s very easy, you just have to pass him the ball. In the United States there are several rules that prevent more older players from going, that’s why it hasn’t happened before. I would be delighted to play with Leo, Busquets – they play by heart and now Inter Miami plays like that too, with a good coach [Tata Martino].”
Vidal left Flamengo and joined Athletico Paranaense in July this year. However, it seems that the Chilean is ready to leave the Brazilian Championship A Series and move to the United States. In a recent interview, Vidal expressed that he would love to join his former Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba, and Sergio Busquets at Inter Miami. Vidal played at Barcelona alongside the three Miami stars for two seasons between 2018 and 2020. He formed a close bond with all of them and is willing to reunite with them.
Reported, Inter Miami and Vidal have not come to any agreements upon any deal. However, the 36-year-old discussed the possibility of joining the MLS side. Since Lionel Messi joined Inter Miami, Busquets and Alba joined him. There were several rumours during the summer transfer window that Andreas Iniesta and Luis Suarez were also set to join Miami. However, there are some technical MLS rules regarding the number of designated players. All MLS clubs can bring in only 3 designated players at a time.
Designated players are the ones who can earn more than what MLS’ salary cap entails. The rule was adopted for the arrival of David Beckham in 2007. Inter Miami’s already had 3 few designated players before Messi and his friends joined. They were Josef Martinez, Gerogore, and Leonardo Campana. Busquets and Alba joined following Messi, so Miami had to register Martinez and Gerogore as regular players. Miami registered Messi and Busquets as new designated players and Alba as a regular player.
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