Now a little touch of Blaugrana comes to soak up the pink and black uniform of Inter Miami. Barely arrived, Lionel Messi took his former FC Barcelona teammate Sergio Busquets to MLS.
The club made the announcement on its social networks on Friday evening. The duration of the contract and its value were not disclosed at the time of writing. It is therefore uncertain whether the Spanish defensive midfielder will carry the Designated Player label.
If he were to be recognized as a Designated Player, Inter Miami will have done some acrobatics to get there financially. The Flamingos have already reached the limit of three designated players in Leonardo Campana, Gregore and Rodolfo Pizarro.
Messi will naturally be a Designated Player given his salary. This means that at least one of the three current designated players, if not more, will see his status changed or will leave the club in one way or another.
Inter Miami will still avoid transfer fees in the Busquets file since the 34-year-old player was at the end of his contract with FC Barcelona and had indicated his departure from the Catalan club last May.
In 15 seasons with Barça, Busquets was crowned champion of the Spanish first division nine times and won the Champions League three times. His contribution being much more than statistical, the Spaniard was at the heart of the national team and FC Barcelona system with Xavi and Andrés Iniesta.
