Inter Miami axe player Lionel Messi replaced in key role

Stuart Telford

• 5 Mar 2024 16:51 GMT
• 3 min read

Inter Miami have traded DeAndre Yedlin, the player Lionel Messi succeeded as captain, to FC Cincinnati for the 2024 Major League Soccer campaign.

Messi's arrival at the David Beckham-backed franchise has been a resounding success so far, with the team winning the inaugural Leagues Cup in August and now sitting top of the overall MLS standings three games into the new season.

Messi has been followed to the club by former Barcelona teammates Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Luis Suarez, and now media reports suggest that Neymar is interested in joining them from Al-Hilal.

READ: Lionel Messi at Inter Miami: Goals, assists, results & fixtures in 2024

But not everyone has been a winner at the Chase Stadium, with former Newcastle right-back Yedlin now finding himself surplus to requirements, traded to Cincinnati for $172,799 in 2024 General Allocation Money, and "important roster flexibility."

Incredible value

The $172,799 figure equates to around €160,000, meaning the Orange and Blue have picked up a player with a highest ETV of €13.5 million per FootballTransfers' in-house algorithm for a relative snip - such is the nature of inter-MLS transfers.

"DeAndre has been a leader for us on and off the field, and we’re very thankful for everything he has done for Inter Miami," said Inter sporting director Chris Henderson as Cincinnati posted his arrival on social media.

READ: Neymar hints at Messi reunion at Inter Miami during Bahrain GP

"This trade gives us the flexibility to continue building our roster. Our ambitions remain high and we will look to use the space created by this move to improve our squad as we aim to compete for titles."

Inter have very quickly been linked with a move for yet another Barca star in Sergi Roberto, who currently serves as the club's captain but is out of contract at the end of the European season.

Julian Gressel, a winter acquisition from Columbus Crew, can also play at right-back, but has been thriving in midfield in recent weeks, assisting Suarez twice during Inter's 5-0 derby win over Orlando City last time out.