Inter Miami head coach, Gerardo Martino, has expressed doubts that the club can afford to sign the Brazilian superstar, Neymar due to salary cap restrictions.
This comes amid growing rumors that Neymar could reunite with Lionel Messi in Major League Soccer.
“With [Messi] and the boys already here, anything that can happen. What I can’t imagine is if the league doesn’t make the salary issue more flexible, how it would be carried out,” Martino remarked on Friday, as reported by ESPN’s Lizzy Becherano.
Martino further emphasized the complexities of the situation, “After writing it or saying it in the media it’s all good, nothing happens, it doesn’t have any consequences, but what would the implementation be like? And the reality is that if there is something that the MLS has, it is that the rules are strict and can’t be broken, unless the MLS decides to change.”
Neymar, who is currently under contract with Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal until 2025, is reportedly making a staggering $300 million, with the club having paid a $100 million transfer fee to secure him from Paris Saint-Germain.
The rumours about a potential MLS move gained traction after Neymar purchased a property in the Miami area, fueling speculation he may follow Messi to Inter Miami.
However, Martino, who has personal experience coaching Neymar during his time at FC Barcelona, dismissed the connection between Neymar’s real estate purchase and a potential move to the U.S.
“We cannot talk or mention a player because he bought a house here or has a girlfriend from Fort Lauderdale… First you have to analyze what the league offers and if this is really possible,” Martino explained. “Starting from that base, today this is impossible, so there is no more continuity in this conversation.”
The conversation about Neymar joining Inter Miami is further complicated by MLS’s rigid salary structure. Currently, Inter Miami has two designated players (DPs) on its roster—Messi and Sergio Busquets—whose contracts allow them to earn above the league’s salary cap.
In the past, the club had three designated players, but with the departure of Gregore to Brazil earlier this year, Inter Miami has opted to maintain only two DP slots this season.
This decision also allowed the club to allocate cap space for four under-22 players, giving them an additional $550,000 in room under the cap.
If Inter Miami hopes to add Neymar, the team would need to either negotiate a significant pay cut with the player or completely restructure its roster to accommodate a third designated player slot.
This would require some creative solutions, as the team’s current setup does not allow for another high-profile signing without breaking the league’s salary cap rules.
While Messi, Busquets, and Jordi Alba were able to accept discounted wages to join Inter Miami, partly due to their ongoing financial arrangements with Barcelona, the situation with Neymar is quite different.
Neymar is still under a lucrative contract with Al Hilal, making the prospect of him agreeing to a salary reduction more challenging.
Neymar recently made his return to the pitch with Al Hilal after a year-long recovery from an ACL injury, marking his first appearance back in October.
With Brazil gearing up for World Cup qualifiers this month, there is anticipation that Neymar will be available for selection. However, the rumours linking him to MLS continue to swirl, even as the logistical hurdles around his potential move remain significant.
