Messi, Busquets and? Inter Miami boss teases stunning TRIPLE transfer

20 Jun 2023 14:19 BST
3 min read

Lionel Messi, Inter Miami, 2023 — © ProShots

Inter Miami have reportedly agreed terms with Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets, but Jorge Mas, who co-owns the club with David Beckham, has hinted a third big name will follow them to the DRV PNK Stadium.

Inter Miami are currently sitting bottom of the Eastern Conference standings in MLS, but changes are afoot in Florida, with Beckham's former Manchester United teammate Phil Neville sacked as manager before Messi's blockbuster signing was completed.

Article continues under the video

Messi will now be joined in Miami by his long-time Barca teammate Busquets, who, like Messi, has turned down a big money offer from Saudi Arabia and will arrive as one of their three Designated Players.

READ: Lionel Messi's newest STAR Inter Miami teammate revealed

Inter already have three DPs in Josef Martinez, Rodolfo Pizarro and Gregore, but the club are expected to sell those players if not 'trade down' their contracts, freeing up space for another blockbuster arrival.

And Mas has hinted as much with a recent social media post showing three blank Inter Miami jerseys with the words: "coming soon".

#nocaptionneeded pic.twitter.com/UGcMQ4IG9w
— Jorge Mas (@Jorge__Mas) June 19, 2023

Who is Miami's mystery third player?

While Luis Suarez and Angel Di Maria - Messi's former teammates with Barcelona and Argentina respectively - have both been linked with moves to Miami, it appears that Jordi Alba is now the favourite to pick up that third DP spot.

READ: Messi set to be joined by Barcelona legend at Inter Miami

The Spain left-back has two offers from Saudi Arabia according to transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano, but remains in "active negotiations" with Inter.

Suarez and Di Maria could still be signed, but it is likely the club would give them a percentage of their jersey sales should they have run out of DP spots at that point.

While neither will outsell Messi replicas - Inter have seen a 4,500 per cent increase in merchandise sales since Messi announced he was joining - that avenue can still amount to a significant amount of extra income.