Revealed: Lionel Messi's Inter Miami expect to sign Barcelona legend

James Shearman

• Updated: 18 Oct 2023 16:20 BST
• 3 min read

Inter Miami plan to reunite Lionel Messi with former Barcelona teammate Luis Suarez ahead of next season.

Suarez had been linked with a move to the MLS in the summer but Gremio would not allow him to leave.

However, the striker has since confirmed that he will be leaving the Brazilian club at the end of the year.

READ: Barcelona president Laporta investigated for bribery

And former Barcelona coach Tata Martino, who is in charge of Inter Miami, has revealed that Suarez is in their plans.

"Within our analysis of the upcoming season, and the needs we may have, we have an analysis with Luis and an analysis without Luis," he said at a press conference.

"So when the moment arrives to make Suarez’s situation with respect to Inter Miami official, we’ll be prepared to go in the corresponding direction."

Messi and Suarez have wanted to play together since they left Barcelona, where they were part of the greatest attacking trio in football history - alongside Neymar.

Inter Miami also have Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets on the books, other important members of that famous Barca side.

Sergi Roberto to Inter Miami?

Sergi Roberto could also be making the switch from Barcelona to Miami in 2024.

"Sergi Roberto continues to show great professionalism, despite his limited role at Barcelona, but he already sees a future in the United States on the horizon," reports Mundo Deportivo's Fernando Polo.

"The reports that have been coming to Sergi Roberto from the MLS are very good. Not only from Leo Messi, [but] Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Riqui Puig, the most recent [ex-Barcelona player] to arrive in America."

Sergi Roberto is a versatile player, able to play at right-back or in midfield, but he has rarely featured in either position this season.

The 31-year-old has fallen behind Joao Cancelo in the pecking order for the right-back spot, while the midfield is packed with the likes of Ilkay Gundogan, Gavi, Pedri and Frenkie de Jong.

Roberto is valued at €4.2 million by FootballTransfers' in-house algorithm, having once boasted a value of €25.2m, but Inter would likely be signing the Spaniard on a free at the end of the LaLiga season.