As Inter Miami edge towards signing a second Barcelona legend this summer, the prospect of Sergio Busquets heading stateside has divided opinion among supporters.
The 34-year-old midfield anchorman departed Camp Nou at the end of last season following 18 illustrious years with his boyhood side. The Spaniard now looks set to be reunited with former teammate Lionel Messi at Inter Miami franchise in Florida.
This is despite interest from Saudi Pro League teams Al-Hilal as well as Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr, with the 143-time international likely to become a Designated Player (DP) for the Herons if he is to complete a transfer this to DRV PNK Stadium summer. The prospect of the switch is not without its complications, however, with Inter Miami currently already having the maximum three DPs on their roster.
Club captain Gregore, who plays in the same position as Busquets, is among those currently registered outside the MLS salary cap, with midfielder Rodolfo Pizarro and forward Leonardo Campana also listed as DPs. Under current rules, therefore, these players would either need to be moved on or registered on a regular contract following a renegotiation of their current terms in order to accommodate new arrivals earning in excess of the league's salary cap.
The cap for regular players currently stands as approximately $612,500 (£480,000) per year, with Messi set to earn a wage of $50-60million (£39-47m) per year, according to the Sports Business Journal. Clearly, therefore, the Argentinian icon will take up a DP slot when he signs for Inter Miami on July 4, upon the opening of the MLS transfer window.
The prospect of Busquets also arriving as a DP has not been welcomed by all observers, however, especially when one considers that current DP Gregore plays in the same position. Of course, the Brazilian could well be sold this summer or a system could be devised to accommodate both players but any hypothetical deal would pose questions for the club's hierarchy and coaching staff.
Taking to Twitter, MLS analyst Taylor Twellman did warn that a potential deal would limit the club's ability to add other high-profile names in the coming months, with signings of this type having produced mixed results in the past. Citing the examples of Frank Lampard, Andrea Pirlo, Steven Gerrard and Blaise Matuidi, he questioned the wisdom of bringing in an ageing midfielder, given how those players "struggled" in the past to live up to their previous glories.
In the cases of Lampard and Pirlo, they both were unable to make a major impact at New York City FC, with the former probably faring the best out of the duo. During their first together campaign in the US, they were unable to inspire the team to the MLS Cup playoffs, with neither able to inspire the team to go all the way during their respective spells with the club.
Likewise, Gerrard was unable to match the impact of former England captain Beckham at LA Galaxy, failing to advance further than the MLS Cup playoffs during his two years stateside. The signing of Matuidi for Inter Miami also ended up posing problems for the franchise, with their owners having to pay a $2m fine for breaching MLS rules, with the Frenchman having signed as a fourth designated player.
Worryingly, the midfielder also was subsequently left off the team's roster for 2022, before the player announced his retirement. Whether Beckham and his partners will run into similar hot water in the coming months remains to be seen, with Inter Miami currently already having the maximum three DPs on their roster.
Reacting to the news of a potential deal for Busquets, one Miami supporter presented the case from both sides, acknowledging rhetorically that the signing could be a price worth paying amid Messi's impending arrival. The fan said: "Is it cool because it’s the price of having a Messi? Or is it a serious waste of a DP slot? I can’t imagine a 35 year old Busquets would start over a healthy Gregore. It would be a decent double pivot though."
In addition, another suggested the signing is risky, pointing out the midfielder's ability and experience, while positing that additions in forward areas could be more of a pressing issue. They added: "[Sergio] Busquets is unique and a world class defensive mid who still plays for Spain.
"Gregore is a solid MLS player that would never get called up for Brazil here are levels to this, though signing him as a DP is risky when we need better attacking players that can score goals."
