Inter Miami’s 2023 Salary List After Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba’s Arrival

The MLS witnessed one of the greatest moments in the league’s history when Inter Miami unveiled Lionel Messi at the DRV PNK Stadium. Soccer enthusiasts have been eyeing all major movements and developments associated with Messi and his new team. Although ‘La Pulga’ will grace American soil for the first time, Miami would indeed feel like home for the 2022 World Cup Winner. Well, it seems the Inter training camp has a flavor of what was once a Barcelona camp.

Messi has reunited with fellow FC Barcelona veterans Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba. The exploits of the trio in Barcelona have already been immortalized in European soccer lore. No doubt they will render the MLS with some stellar shows. Now, let us see how much the Florida-based soccer club has splurged to bring these Barcelona icons to Miami.

Inter Miami hosts an FC Barcelona reunion

During the first week of June 2023, word got out that Lionel Messi is interested in joining Inter Miami. This came after the seven-time Ballon D’Or winner turned his back on a lucrative offer from the Saudi Arabian club, Al Hilal. Besides, Messi had also ruled out the possibility of a return to FC Barcelona. A month later, Inter Miami officially announced Messi’s signing and unveiled him in a grand presentation. On the same day, Miami unveiled their new signee and Messi’s former teammate, Sergio Busquets, as an Inter Miami player.

Busquets had called it quits with FC Barcelona after the 2022-23 season. On June 23, Inter Miami announced they signed Busquets. However, things became official on July 16. Meanwhile, former Barcelona full-back, Jordi Alba had also called it a day with the Catalan club, at the same time as Busquets, terminating his contract a year earlier than expiration. Miami saw a new signing in the Spaniard and made moves accordingly. Things fell in place and as of July 20, Jordi Alba is officially an Inter Miami player.

How much do Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, and the rest of Inter Miami players earn?

Lionel Messi has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Inter Miami. Messi reportedly signed a designated player contract and will earn up to $54 million in salary during a season. Now, Messi’s staggering Inter Miami salary easily rivals the earnings of big sporting stars from top-notch American leagues such as the NBA, the MLB, and the NFL. Sergio Busquets has also joined Inter Miami as a designated player. To make room for the veteran midfielder, Miami had to let go of Rodolfo Pizarro.

According to a report on Marca, Sergio Busquets will earn $10 million per season in salaries from Inter Miami. Meanwhile, Jordi Alba is set to make $1.6 million per season with the MLS side. Venezuelan star Josef Martinez is the next big earner after Messi and Busquets. Martinez reportedly earns a salary of $4 million in Miami. Let’s have a look at the earnings of the whole Inter Miami squad.

As of now, Inter Miami houses two of MLS’ most-paid soccer players. One is obviously Messi. Let alone MLS, the Argentine has surpassed superstars from the NBA and the NFL! Sergio Busquets’ $10 million paycheck makes him the second most-paid MLS player, surpassing the likes of Chicago Fire’s Xherdan Shaqiri who earns $8.2 million.

Will Inter Miami welcome more Barca veterans?

Ever since Inter Miami finalized the Jordi Alba signing and facilitated a full-fledged FCB reunion, rumors about other FCB veterans joining Miami spread like wildfire. Veteran midfielder Andres Iniesta is one of the former Barcelona stars linked to Inter Miami. Iniesta, 39, has concluded his five-year stint with the Japanese club Vissel Kobe. Rumors claim that Miami is looking forward to bringing in Iniesta to play alongside his old partner, Leo Messi.

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Meanwhile, star striker and former FCB icon Luis Suarez is also linked to Miami for a reunion. However, Suarez’s Brazilian club, Gremio won’t give him away that easily. Gremio is reportedly in no plan to release their star player when they have upped their ante in Brazil. Anyhow, Inter Miami will probably make a good move in the coming few days, as the secondary transfer window is coming to a close by the end of this month. If Miami signs a bigshot veteran who looks forward to reuniting with Messi and others, we would indeed see the MLS side splurging more.

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With these splurges and additions, the MLS in general, and Inter Miami, in particular, are making their names heard loud and clear in the soccer verse. Shortly, the FCB veterans will debut on American soil in a friendly matchup against Cruz Azul. Let us see if the trio brings their FCB mettle to the table on the very first day.