14 June 2023 , 16:25
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Long-serving MLS coach Bruce Arena has spoken of his delight at Lionel Messi's impending arrival in MLS, praising the league for tweaking contract rules to facilitate the deal.
The Argentina icon will join Inter Miami this summer from Paris Saint-Germain, with the signing arguably already the most significant in the history of the sport stateside. Not since David Beckham's move to the LA Galaxy in 2007 has a transfer captured the imagination of the US public.
It has also since emerged all MLS clubs contributed towards the contract offer put to Messi ahead of his switch, as his arrival appears to be a joint effort. The deal has not come without some complications, however, with Inter Miami currently already having the maximum number of three designated players (DP) on their roster.
As it stands, Gregore, Rodolfo Pizarro and Leonardo Campana are registered as the club's exceptions to the salary cap restrictions which are in place in MLS as part of what has been dubbed the 'Beckham Rule'. Essentially, each MLS player on the regular roster is allowed to earn a wage of approximately $651,250 (£513,179), with designated players allowed to earn a higher wage.
Although Inter Miami is, therefore, in a bit of a predicament heading into the upcoming MLS transfer window, veteran coach Arena praised the league for being lenient. For him, even if the South Beach club were left with three DPs plus Messi, the benefits of bringing a player of the World Cup winner's quality and star power outweigh these concerns.
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He said: "I think bringing Lionel Messi into our league is fabulous and whatever they can do - if they had [the maximum] three DPs [designated players] already and they brought him in - I could live with it. It's good for our league."
Bruce Arena presided over the transition of LA Galaxy after David Beckham's arrival in MLS in 2007 and is well placed to predict the impact of Lionel Messi's switch to Inter Miami. (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)"I don't know what it is, but the rules are being followed. The league isn't doing any special for Miami. What's special is that [David] Beckham was able to attract Messi to his club and they worked on him for a couple years."
He added: "I think although he turns 36 this month, he's gonna have a tremendous impact for that team and that city in the league. And that has to be good."
With the MLS transfer window set to open on July 4, it is feasible that some of Inter Miami's current designated players could be moved on to make way for Messi. Alternatively, they could also renegotiate with one of these players to bring their salary below the cap and thus free up another DP spot.