First it was Lionel Messi. Then Sergio Busquets. Inter Miami, already the most talked-about team in Major League Soccer, isn’t slowing its push to assemble what could be the living history of a legendary Barça era in the United States. With Messi secured as a marquee figure who transcends sport and business, Andrés Iniesta, who recently ended his stint in Japan, now appears ready to follow him to Florida.
Messi and Tata reunite at Inter Miami
RAC-1’s veteran journalist Roger Saperas reported yesterday that Inter Miami is eyeing the former captain of Vissel Kobe. The star, who has begun his vacation after a standout performance last Saturday at Noevir Stadium in Japan, remains tight-lipped. At 39, he is weighing the next chapter of his career, considering both a return to Barça and a possible move within the Japanese league.
Other options
This isn’t the only offer on the table for the former Barça captain, who has drawn interest from various markets, notably in the Arab football scene. No final decision has been announced on his future. The prospect of facing Messi and Busquets in Miami remains a strong pull for him.
If he signs, a remarkable reunion could unfold: the three captains who captained Barça in recent history might converge again in MLS. Iniesta once handed a bracelet to Messi when the latter headed to Asia in the summer of 2018. Messi then passed the bracelet to Busquets, a small symbol of continuity. Busquets later moved to Paris Saint-Germain in 2021, a moment that stirred strong emotions among Barça supporters.
Busquets, who in the summer of 2023 handed on some of that symbolic weight to Sergi Roberto—the player closest to the dressing room hierarchy—left the club for Inter Miami, while Jordi Alba’s fate remained uncertain as Iniesta’s future loomed.
July 21, Messi’s debut likely
Inter Miami aims to finalize its roster in the first two weeks of July, with a potential milestone on July 21 for Messi and Busquets. A debut alongside Iniesta is on the table if the club completes its recruitment of the American franchise’s complementary pieces. Talks involving Jordi Alba have intensified since last January as the plan for a multi-year project evolved well beyond football alone.
“MLS is captivating. The pace of the league, the growth of teams, and the city’s energy drew me in, and Inter Miami offered the chance to be part of it.”
Tata Martino is returning to the league, a move that has polarized fans and analysts alike.
The franchise faces a period of reconstruction. With a challenging season in the Eastern Conference, it seeks a rapid turnaround. The team is rebuilding, aiming to lift the squad and recapture momentum from recent seasons.
“We have a big fight,” admitted the former Barça coach, convinced he could replicate the success he had with Atlanta United, where he spent two seasons, won the MLS title, and earned coach of the year honors. In the coming days, the club hopes to see Messi, Busquets, and potentially Iniesta converge in a way that redefines Inter Miami’s trajectory.