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A<\/span>nother of Lionel Messi<\/strong>‘s friends is poised to join him in Miami<\/strong>.<\/p>\n According to the Miami Herald<\/strong>, left-back Jordi Alba<\/strong> will join Inter Miami<\/strong> in the coming days, as he has reached a deal<\/a> with the club. This means Major League Soccer<\/strong> will soon be home to three of soccer’s most famous players — and they’ll all be in the same team again.<\/p>\n Current Spain<\/strong> captain Alba<\/strong> returned to FC Barcelona<\/strong> in 2012 after three seasons at Valencia<\/strong>, and he played with Messi<\/strong> until the Argentine departed for PSG<\/strong> in 2021. Alba and Sergio Busquets<\/strong>, who will also be joining Inter Miami<\/a> in a matter of days, were Bara <\/strong> teammates and captains up until a couple months ago, when their contracts expired at the Catalan club. They also played for La Roja<\/strong> until Busquets announced his retirement from international soccer last year.<\/p>\n Alba<\/strong>, who made 459 appearances for Barcelona<\/strong> and won 17 trophies at the club, is set to be announced as a new Inter Miami<\/strong> player alongside his longtime teammates on July 16. The trio is expected to debut together during the League Cup<\/strong> match against Cruz Azul<\/strong> on July 21.<\/p>\n Inter Miami<\/a> will have to do some squad shuffling in order to accommodate Messi<\/strong> as a Designated Player<\/strong>, with midfielder Rodolfo Pizarro <\/strong> expected to leave the club<\/a> in the coming days to make room. Busquets<\/strong> will take up another Designated Player spot, while Inter Miami appear able to create enough room within the existing salary cap to integrate Alba’s new contract.<\/p>\n Inter Miami<\/strong> might not be done recruiting Messi<\/strong>‘s pals just yet. Reports claim that the club will next target Andrs Iniesta<\/strong> during the secondary transfer window, which is open through the month of July in MLS<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Iniesta<\/strong>, 39, recently ended his five-year stint at Japanese club Vissel Kobe<\/strong> and played 16 years alongside Messi at Camp Nou<\/strong>. He has not signaled his intent to retire, and he could be tempted by one more chance to play alongside the GOAT.<\/p>\n However, it remains to be seen how much more space Inter Miami<\/a> can carve out in its squad to accommodate player wages after the deals for Messi, Busquets<\/strong>, and Alba<\/strong> are finalized.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nWhen could Alba debut?<\/h2>\n
Iniesta to complete raid of ex-Bara players?<\/h2>\n