Lionel Messi given Barcelona reunion as Inter Miami confirm second huge transfer

23 June 2023 , 21:57

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Lionel Messi will be joined in Miami by Sergio Busquets in a Barcelona reunion (Image: AFP/Getty Images)

Sergio Busquets will join Lionel Messi at Inter Miami after the MLS team confirmed their second major transfer of the summer.

The ground-breaking deal for Messi was confirmed earlier this month as David Beckham 's franchise agreed terms with the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner. Now Busquets will join his former Barcelona team-mate in Miami, as their roster begins to significantly strengthen.

Busquets has been linked with Inter Miami for some time, and talks have intensified since the midfielder became a free agent at the end of the season. Busquets leaves Spain for the first time in his career, but will have a familiar face to help him settle in the United States.

Inter Miami are one of the most relevant teams in football right now, highlighting just how far MLS has come over the years. Beckham's franchise have managed to sign perhaps the greatest player in the history of football, a move which has instantly become the biggest thing to ever happen to MLS.

Busquets will join Messi in the Eastern Conference, and Miami tweeted a video to confirm his arrival. It's reported that the two will be unveiled together as new signings, although a third marquee player is still expected to join.

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Inter Miami managing director Jorge Mas tweeted a picture of three blank pink jersey's to his personal account, teasing fans that Messi would be joined by two other stars. Jordi Alba has also been in talks with the franchise, meaning they could have three former Barcelona players in the squad.

Alba was contracted until the end of the 2023-24 season, but came to an agreement with Barcelona to end his deal this summer. The defender has been linked with a move to Atletico Madrid and various teams in Saudi Arabia, but also with Miami.

The Spaniard could complete the ultimate triple-signing, and make Inter Miami by far the most dangerous team in MLS - if they're not already. Their team needs some help too, as they're bottom of the Eastern Conference after a poor season.

Former manager Phil Neville was sacked just days before the signing of Messi, and Javier Morales has stepped in as interim head coach. It's Morales' first senior coaching role, after joining Miami in 2019 as a member of their academy staff.

Ticket prices have already surged as a result of Messi's arrival, although the former Paris Saint Germain star won't feature straight away for the MLS team seeing as his long season has just finished. The arrival of Busquets will only attract more interest, and Miami aren't done yet.

Joseph McBride