Could Neymar Complete the Reformation of the Barcelona Boys in Miami?
It was the stuff of dreams. Three men from three different countries playing on another continent with a chemistry that was organic and widely successful. Lionel Messi of Argentina, Luis Suarez of Uruguay, and Neymar of Brazil comprised a trio of South American superstars who dominated Europe for Spanish superclub Barcelona. The MSN won eight trophies including La Liga, Copa del Rey, European Champions League, and World Club Cup titles in their time together.
The transfer of Neymar to Paris Saint Germain in 2017 ended this era of brilliance all too soon. Now a decade since their first appearance together, there are words on the wind that tell a tale of a possible reunion an ocean away but closer to the trident's roots. Neymar is currently playing in Saudi Arabia but apparently, there is an interest from him to come to MLS for Inter Miami to rejoin his friends once more. It makes sense since this trio scored 364 goals and handed out 173 assists in a three-year span at Barcelona. One wonders what they could do in MLS even at their respective advanced ages.
This seems to be something that new Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano has in mind. Neymar's contract expires in June of 2025 but to make this possible Mascherano and club management would have to work around MLS salary limits. “Every coach in the world wants him,” Javier explained, “but at the moment you know the MLS rules around the salary cap.” However, this has not prevented international superstars in the past like David Beckham and Lionel Messi from finding a financial fit for clubs in the United States. It's just a case of being creative.
Javier Mascherano, a former player for the Argentina National Team and former coach of the Argentina under-20 team since 2021 has garnered excellent results. He has earned respect as a coach bringing him to Miami to coach his former teammate and 2022 World Cup champion Lionel Messi. Both played together with Argentina and at Barcelona during the MSN Golden Era. However, he and former teammate Luis Suarez, who rejoined Messi last season, knew it would be a tall task. “As always, anything is possible in football,” Suarez pointed out, “but turning these expectations into reality is difficult and complicated.”
It is nice to dream. Messi and Suarez led Inter Miami to the MLS Supporters Shield trophy which is symbolic of having the best record in MLS. However, they fell short in the playoffs and Neymar would be just the piece to put Miami over the top. Inter Miami has already made an extension offer to 2026 for Messi showing they are serious about making a run at the MLS championship.
This extension comes with an MLS clause that any player with two seasons here can be loaned to another team to help said player maintain his fitness. This would allow that player to do this without affecting his current contract. This would open the door for Messi to ponder the upcoming World Cup that year by playing for a club during MLS off-season to remain ready for a call-up if he still so desires to defend and appear in a record sixth World Cup. The possibilities are endless, and Inter Miami is putting it all on the table for legacy and championships. The question simply is, will Neymar accept this rare opportunity to relive some of the best moments of his career?
