Brazilian soccer sensation Neymar may soon go to the United States to reunite with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, more than four years after they all first took the field together as teammates.
The 32-year-old joined Barcelona in 2013 together with Messi and later Suarez, creating a lethal front three in a club full of elite players. After briefly joining Paris Saint-Germain in 2017, Neymar eventually found himself in Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia.
Before making a comeback on October 21, Neymar had been out for a year due to a knee injury. However, with his contract set to expire next year, rumors about his probable departure began to circulate as soon as he suited up for his team.
Since he has the opportunity to depart for free in the summer, rumors are circulating about where he might go next, with Inter Miami being one of the teams mentioned.
David Beckham’s club added Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets to the lineup in addition to Suarez and Messi, making it reminiscent of the Barcelona squad that won the Champions League in 2015.
Neymar may re-join Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi in Miami after his contract with Al Hilal
If Inter Miami finds a way to get around MLS’s payroll cap, they might get back together.
The stringent pay cap rules in Major League Soccer could make a lavish reunion in Florida more difficult. Tata Martino, the coach of Inter Miami, has previously addressed the rumors at a press conference, though.
“Anything can happen now that Leo and the other boys are here,” Martino remarked. “I don’t know how it would proceed if the league doesn’t make the salary issue more flexible,” the speaker said.
“Unless the MLS decides to change them, the rules are strict and cannot be broken,” he added.
Messi signed a two-and-a-half-year, $150 million contract with Inter Miami in 2023. His contract has a 2026 option and continues through the 2025 season.
With the acquisition of Suarez, Alba, and Busquets, MLS fanbase grew after his arrival and grew even more.
Between 2014 and 2017, Neymar, Messi, and Suarez scored 364 goals and provided 173 assists for Barcelona.
Suarez, Neymar, and Messi played together in Barcelona from 2014-2017 before splitting up
The formidable trio dubbed as MSN combined for 364 goals and 173 assists as teammates
Messi and Neymar played together at PSG before heading to Miami and Al Hilal, respectively
Apart from adding star power to the growing league, Neymar could also go back to his roots and join his boyhood club Santos in Brazil. Neymar made his professional debut for the club in 2009 and helped them win their first Copa Libertadores in nearly 50 years in 2011.
From there, he skyrocketed to stardom and Barcelona quickly acquired his services.
Santos’ recent promotion back to the Brazilian top flight was celebrated by their former star, leading to speculations of his return to Vila Belmiro.
‘We are returning to the place where we should never have left,’ the Brazilian wrote on his Instagram following the promotion. Neymar also called a Santos striker during a press conference to celebrate the feat.
Osvaldo Nico, Vice President of the Board of Directors of Santos, appears to be fueling the rumors, claiming ‘[Neymar] arrives in June. That is the conversation we are having.’
Neymar has played in five games for Al Hilal before the Saudi Pro League kicks off on Nov. 8 and runs through May 2025.