LMessi’s Florida retreat for former Barcelona players could soon have a new resident. Comments from Neymar on Tuesday hinted at a possible reunion with his former Barca teammates Messi and Luis Suarez at Inter Miami, seven years after the trio formed perhaps the most formidable forward line in football history. The prospect of the ‘MSN’ being reunited in the MLS is tantalizing.
But just because signing Neymar is a compelling idea doesn’t make it a good idea. Neymar is a shadow of the player who scored 105 goals in 186 games for Barça. Injuries have taken their toll on the 32-year-old, sidelining him for much of the past year. He has made just seven appearances for Al-Hilal since joining the Saudi Arabian club in August 2023. There may not be much football left in him.
Yet similar things were said about Suárez and his knee problems before he joined Inter Miami and the Uruguayan striker scored 20 league goals last season. Messi himself has suffered increasing injuries in recent years but still won the MLS MVP award in 2024, playing more than 1,500 minutes for a team that walked away with the Supporters’ Shield. Inter Miami’s rebounding powers – and the fact that MLS isn’t exactly La Liga – could also work for Neymar.
While MLS Cup glory has eluded the Herons thus far, Neymar is certainly jealous of the fun his former Barcelona teammates are having. “They are my friends, we still speak to each other,” he told CNN. Photos of Messi and Suárez having fun in South Beach and Miami nightclubs were probably sent in the group chat. Does Neymar have the same experience in the quieter surroundings of Riyadh?
Al-Hilal’s signing of Neymar from Paris Saint-Germain for a reported fee of €90 million in 2023 was intended as a milestone for the Saudi Pro League. After Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, the Brazilian was the highest profile player to make the move to Saudi Arabia at a time when the kingdom seemed destined to become a destination for the sport’s biggest stars.
Since then, however, the league’s development has stalled. The large money transfers have stopped. Al-Hilal wanted to sign Kylian Mbappé, but he went to Real Madrid instead. Mohamed Salah was a target for Al-Ittihad – he stayed at Liverpool. The best players in the world are still playing in Europe and with Neymar’s contract expiring in June, Al-Hilal doesn’t have much for their investment.
MLS roster restrictions and salary cap would prevent Inter Miami from even coming close to the €150 million annual salary Neymar would reportedly get in Saudi Arabia, but the sales pitch for the striker could be the same as that worked for Suárez and Jordi Alba, neither of them. who are designated players. Everyone wants to play with Messi, even if it means a pay cut.
Inter Miami doesn’t really need another striker. Leo Campana’s trade with the New England Revolution left them without an excellent offensive depth option, but the Herons need more defensive strength and depth if they want to make it all the way in this year’s playoffs. An elite centre-back should be at the top of their shopping list. Nicolás Otamendi has been mentioned. A new defensive midfielder would also help.
However, if Inter Miami really wants to be the most exciting attacking team in MLS, they should gamble on Neymar. A late career renaissance in Florida would remind us all why he captivated so many fans all those years ago. He was Brazil’s next Pelé. And the next Messi of Barcelona. The talent is still there.
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A series of poor career choices, along with many injury misfortunes, have brought Neymar to this point. He should never have left Barça, especially not for PSG, who never had a plan beyond spending on superstars and hoping for the best. The move to Al-Hilal was also unsuccessful. Neymar’s career will always be seen as wasted potential, even as a Champions League winner Brazil’s all-time top scorer.
“If there is ever an opportunity to bring the caliber of a player like Neymar, we will not hesitate,” Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas told GiveMeSport earlier this week, opening the door for a transfer. Mas also said his club has “an unlimited budget,” while acknowledging the complexities of tiptoeing around MLS roster rules. It’s not as simple as just writing a check. It’s never in the MLS.
2025 will be a big year for Inter Miami. It could be the final year of Messi’s contract with the club. The Herons will also play in the expanded Club World Cup in the US this summer, with Miami hosting the opening match at Hard Rock Stadium. If a few things are right, Neymar could be there in pink. Getting the band back together has worked for Inter Miami so far. Why not another invitation?