Inter Miami open door for Luis Suarez transfer with $150K deal with MLS rivals
A subtle manoeuvre from Inter Miami this summer may enable the MLS club to reunite Luis Suarez with several of his former La Liga teammates in the US.
It has been an eventful summer for the Herons, with Argentine icon Lionel Messi having stunned the world of sport by snubbing a return to Barcelona and the riches of the Saudi Pro League to sign for David Beckham's club. The ambitious franchise did not stop there either, securing the services of ex-Camp Nou midfield maestro Sergio Busquets and Spain captain Jordi Alba as well.
With the MLS transfer window open until August 2, they still have time to add even more superstars to their roster as they look to transform new head coach Tata Martino's squad. Now, the club has made what could prove to be an extremely shrewd move in securing the rights for another international roster slot this summer.
The Floridan outfit have purchased this slot from Western Conference side San Jose Earthquakes, in exchange for $150,000 in 2023 General Allocation Money (GAM). Essentially, this will mean that Messi's new employers will now be able to make a further addition in the form of a non-US national this summer.
The leading US league's rules stipulate that each team is given the right to eight of these slots per team but each of MLS' 29 clubs are permitted to trade these places for another player or GAM — the pot each franchise receives to spend on transfers or wages. There is no limit on the amount of slots each team can have but Miami have traded all of theirs and so would need to purchase any more that they may require.
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In recent times, the Herons have been linked with a stunning move for Messi's former Blaugrana strike partner Luis Suarez, with the 36-year-old Uruguayan having already informed the club of his desire to leave. The Brazilian club's head coach has admitted that the situation is out of his hands and has called on the player and the team's president to find a solution imminently.
Another player who could potentially fill this slot is Barcelona and Spain legend Andres Iniesta, who recently departed Japanese club Vissel Kobe. The 39-year-old has admitted that he would like to continue playing at club level, although it remains to be seen whether Inter Miami will swoop in for the veteran World Cup winner, with his camp having denied that any deal has been put on the table.
Gremio's Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez has been linked with a move to Inter Miami to join his former teammate Lionel Messi. (Photo by SILVIO AVILA / AFP) (Photo by SILVIO AVILA/AFP via Getty Images) (SILVIO AVILA/AFP via Getty Images)Previously, outspoken billionaire co-owner Jorge Mas did acknowledge that a prospective deal to sign former Liverpool marksman Suarez could well be difficult to pull off due to the player's pre-existing contract with his current club. The mercurial attacker signed a two-year deal with Gremio upon his arrival in Brazil at the turn of the year, after all.
The construction tycoon admitted to reporters: "Luis Suarez is a Gremio player. That’s not up to me, he’s under contract at Gremio with a release clause. He’s been an amazing player, but there’s nothing for me to talk about if he’s a Gremio player."
The purchase of the international roster slot would suggest that another new signing could be on the way but the 60-year-old did add that he is proud of the club's business this summer irrespective of whether or not further additions are made. He explained: "We have succeeded. The fact that Lionel Messi is here, that Sergio Busquets is here and others are going to come, that we’ve opened new chapters for the sport in this country, we’ve succeeded.”"
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