Copyright Athlon Sports
Inter Miami will have at least one Designated Player spot vacant in 2026, and it could be occupied by Neymar to finally reunite with Lionel Messi, according to reports. Messi, 38, recently extended his contract with the Herons until the end of the 2028 MLS season, securing his stay in the United States for three more years. Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba announced that they will retire at the end of the current season, so they will not accompany the Argentine star for the inauguration of Miami Freedom Park, scheduled for 2026. This also means that Inter Miami will have two vacant DP spots next season. One is expected to be taken by Rodrigo De Paul, and the other could be for Neymar, 33. Report Details Inter Miami’s Position on Signing Neymar to Partner with Messi According to Sport, the former Paris Saint-Germain star no longer has interest from European clubs, but the Miami club “would love” to sign him. “The pink club has two Designated Player spots free for 2026, and they would love for one of them to be occupied by Neymar,” wrote Joaquim Piera in the Spanish outlet. The same report indicates that the Brazilian does not have many options for his future, as the player does not have the best reputation in terms of lifestyle. “Unable to play regularly at Santos, where he has suffered three muscular injuries since March that have kept him out for more than three months, no one wants to embark on the adventure of hiring a star who is at a very low ebb and has internalized bad habits.” Piera concludes by explaining that there are two main alternatives for Neymar. One is to extend his contract with Santos for six months, and the other is to reunite with Messi in Miami. “There are two possible scenarios for his immediate future. One is to renew for six more months with Santos, where his father is gaining positions to eventually buy the Sao Paulo club. (…) The second scenario is to bring forward his move to MLS, where the idea of playing has always attracted him, both for the lifestyle and its proximity to the world of celebrities and show business.”
