Have you ever wondered what’s stopping an ‘MSN’ reunion at Inter Miami? Miami head coach Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino recently said that the MLS regulations prevent it from happening. He hopes MLS to change its roster regulations so that international superstars like Neymar or Angel di Maria can join Miami or other teams in MLS. He discussed that the current league restrictions make it challenging to bring high-profile players like them. However, Martino believes MLS will change its rules and regulations in the future so that it will gain a wider global audience.

The Brazilian forward, currently with Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia, would be a significant addition, reuniting with his former Barcelona teammate Messi. But MLS has a limit on roster structure and salaries, the regulations are a formidable challenge for acquiring high-profile players. Each team can have three Designated Player (DP) slots set aside for players whose salaries can exceed the team-wide salary cap. Currently, Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, and Leonardo Campana occupy Inter Miami’s DP slots, leaving no room for another like Neymar unless one of these players is taken off the list or some significant adjustments are made. 

Martino, who has been vocal about the league‘s restrictive policies, feels that these restrictions stunt Miami and limit the whole league in competing worldwide. Martino also contended that changes are needed if MLS wants to contend with international leagues by attracting top talent. He argued that MLS teams need the flexibility to create deeper rosters, which would allow them to handle injuries and rotations in the way that many top leagues worldwide can. 

What would Neymar bring to the table if he played in MLS?

Neymar would be a fantastic addition to MLS, bringing an unmatched flair and brand appeal to the American soccer scene. Known for his dribbling skills and eye for goal, he was a standout player for clubs like Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, and the Brazilian national team. A reunion of Lionel Messi and Neymar at Inter Miami would capture global attention and possibly shift the landscape of MLS, attracting more high-profile players and increasing fan engagement.

Martino also reminds us about the complexity and the cost of trying to get it done in this way within the existing framework. If MLS wants to see Neymar someday playing in its league, then it likely needs to change some of its policies regarding rosters. It has been proposed that MLS create a secondary DP spot or alter its allocation money system to help with more signings. Other ideas floating around are raising the salary cap or making an exemption for certain players like some leagues have done across the globe. For now, the future remains uncertain, but Martino remains optimistic that the league may move toward a more flexible model.

Martino and Inter Miami want Neymar to join their team. And MSN reuniting again will bring huge global attraction and impart MLS heavily. Martino wants to change the rules so that MLS can have more star players and more competitive games. We don’t know if MLS will agree to this, but it would benefit both Inter Miami and the league if they do.