There is a significant risk looming behind the potential reunion of Neymar and Lionel Messi at Inter Miami by the end of the 2025 regular season.
Neymar Jr. is set to become a free agent at the close of 2025. His name has naturally been linked with several clubs, notably MLS giants Inter Miami, who are reportedly keen on securing his services. Miami’s ambition is to reunite Neymar with Lionel Messi, a move that would also help accommodate Messi as he prepares to bid farewell to two other close friends and former teammates, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba. Both Busquets and Alba have announced their retirement upon the conclusion of the MLS regular season in 2025, thereby creating valuable space for the addition of another marquee player.
The highly anticipated potential reunion of Neymar and Lionel Messi, however, comes with its own set of pros and cons, a sentiment echoed by former United States Men’s National Team goalkeeper, Brad Friedel. Friedel contends that Neymar’s presence could significantly enhance the financial prospects for both Inter Miami and Major League Soccer as a whole. Yet, he cautions that the club’s financial balance sheet would require meticulous scrutiny. Furthermore, Neymar’s fitness record presents another considerable challenge, undoubtedly posing a risk for both the player and the club.
“I think it will be a risk for both sides; in my opinion, it all depends on how you structure the contract,” Friedel stated in an interview quoted by Goal International. He emphasized the need to weigh the advantages and disadvantages, noting that “when you recruit a legendary player like Neymar, you also have to account for the commercial opportunities that come with it.” These opportunities, he elaborated, “almost always coincide with the salary and wage package you’re going to give. You will get significant off-field revenue when bringing in a player like that.”
However, Friedel believes that “the sporting risk is probably greater than the commercial risk, or as significant if he gets injured.” He elaborated that “if he doesn’t get injured, the risk becomes his age and past injuries, and whether he can be the player they need.” Despite these concerns, Friedel acknowledged the advantages of the MLS environment: “The advantage is, it’s a lower-level league than where he plays. Lionel Messi is the greatest of all time, but he can play longer in MLS. It’s a league that allows players to do that.”
The former Blackburn Rovers player concluded by stressing the importance for Inter Miami to “consider the pros and cons of what they can get off the field and try to do it right. If they can structure the contract correctly, then the risk will be limited.”
Currently, Neymar Jr. remains under contract with his former club, Santos, until December 2025. Interestingly, Neymar’s name has long been linked with a move to MLS, though he ultimately chose to continue his career in the Saudi League before returning to Brazil. During their time together at Barcelona and PSG, Neymar forged a phenomenal partnership with Lionel Messi. Their combined efforts saw them play 206 matches together, contributing to a remarkable 67 goals. Should Luis Suarez also decide to remain with Inter Miami, the tantalizing prospect of the formidable “MSN” trio reuniting on the pitch could indeed become a reality.
Summary
Inter Miami mempertimbangkan untuk menyatukan kembali Neymar dan Lionel Messi pada akhir musim reguler 2025, memanfaatkan status bebas transfer Neymar. Langkah ini juga akan mengisi kekosongan yang ditinggalkan oleh Sergio Busquets dan Jordi Alba yang akan pensiun pada waktu yang sama. Reuni ini dipandang berpotensi besar meningkatkan pendapatan finansial bagi Inter Miami dan Major League Soccer secara keseluruhan.
Namun, mantan kiper Brad Friedel menyoroti risiko signifikan, terutama terkait rekor kebugaran Neymar dan perlunya pemeriksaan keuangan klub yang cermat. Friedel berpendapat bahwa risiko olahraga lebih besar daripada keuntungan komersial jika Neymar mengalami cedera. Oleh karena itu, ia menekankan pentingnya Inter Miami menyusun kontrak dengan benar untuk membatasi potensi risiko. Lingkungan MLS yang merupakan liga tingkat lebih rendah juga memungkinkan pemain bintang untuk bermain lebih lama.
