World Cup winner Lionel Messi and Spaniard Sergio Busquets could reunite with former Barcelona teammate Jordi Alba as Major League Soccer (MLS) club Inter Miami close in on signing the left-back, reports The Athletic.
Alba, 34, is now a free agent after leaving Barca earlier this year after spending 11 years and making 459 appearances throughout his career at the La Liga club.
The experienced left-back has also won 16 major titles, including five La Liga, five Copas del Rey and the UEFA Champions League.
Alba and Busquets represented the Spanish national team for more than nine years, until Alba announced his retirement from international football last year.
The Spaniards will be announced as Inter Miami players on July 16, while the Messi-Busquets-Alba trio is expected to make their debut on July 21 in a League Cup match against Cruz Azul.
However, the MLS club will have to reshuffle the squad to make room for Messi, Busquets and Alba, as all three will join the club as designated players.
Miami midfielder Rodolfo Pizarro is expected to leave, while the American club will have to make room within the salary cap to integrate Alba’s new contract.
According to new developments, former Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta could join Miami to play alongside his former teammates for the last time.
The 39-year-old Iniesta, who joined Japanese club Vissel Kobe in 2018, recently ended his five-year contract with the club and has no intention of retiring anytime soon.
The World Cup winner, who shared the pitch with Messi for 16 years, could once again start sharing the field with his former teammate.
However, this whole operation hinges on whether an MLS club can afford to sign the Spaniard and make way for the 39-year-old.
