“There’s No Way to Bring Him” – Angel Di Maria’s Reunion Hopes With Lionel Messi Shut Down by Inter Miami Boss

At Inter Miami, Lionel Messi is more than enjoying the company of his former Barcelona teammates. Their bond has translated to excellent on-pitch chemistry as seen by Messi’s recent hattricks of assist to Luis Suarez. Excitement among the Miami faithful heightened as there were rumors of Angel Di Maria making the switch. Now, Inter Miami coach Tata Martino has had his say on the matter and it looks like little has changed regarding the Di Maria situation.

In his latest presser, the Argentine tactician revealed the club’s stance on the Benfica star. Martino said, “There’s no way to bring him in now.” But what is stopping Inter Miami from bringing in a World Cup winner and a playmaker extraordinaire into the squad? The answer could be traced back to Martino’s previous Di Maria comments.

Previously, the Herons’ boss had dismissed the Di Maria links. He said, “No, we do not have anything that has officially arrived from the sporting director regarding Ángel (Di María).” He added, “Here the league has certain types of economic restrictions, certain limits, and it is clear that today we are complying well within that rule, but today it would not be feasible to hire any type of player, especially regarding the conditions that could come.” 

These ‘economic restrictions’ might be the barrier to the signing. After all, MLS clubs have a salary cap of $683,750 for the senior squad. Di Maria won’t come in cheap and this could explain Inter Miami’s reluctance. Yet, avoiding Di Maria might prove to be the best outcome after all for Lionel Messi & Co.

With Lionel Messi’s Barca mates on board, does Inter Miami need another aging star?

At 36, Angel Di Maria’s best years are past him. However, the MLS is not as physically intense as European soccer, and thus Di Maria is a viable target for the Herons. But, Inter Miami already has its share of players over the age of 35. The likes of Lionel Messi, Busquets, Alba, and Suarez all fall into this category. As such, the addition of the Benfica star could block another youngster’s path into the first team. A situation Inter Miami is familiar with Leonardo Campana.

Last season, Campana was the main #9 for the MLS side. Unfortunately, the arrival of Luis Suarez pushed him into the sidelines. While Martino says the strikers can play along, the reality is that Campana is pretty much a backup to Suarez. Di Maria’s arrival could spell the same fate for Benjamin Cremaschi. The youngster is a playmaker in midfield and Lionel Messi’s favorite teammate in the squad! Considering their stylistic profile, Di Maria’s arrival could relegate their future star to the sidelines. Hence, should the club prioritize the present over the future? Let us know below.