Barcelona legend Sergio Busquets “expected to join” Lionel Messi at MLS club Inter Miami: signing details

Sergio Busquets is set to follow in the footsteps of former Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi and sign for David Beckham’s Inter Miami. According to reports in Spain, including from Barcelona-based journalist Toni Juanmartí and Catalan radio station RAC1, the veteran midfielder is expected to officially seal a move to MLS “in the coming hours”.

The former Spanish international will turn 35 in July and announced in May that he would be leaving Camp Nou after 15 seasons in the first team. In that time, Busquets a total of 722 appearances, won nine LaLiga titles, three Champions Leagues and seven Copas del Rey amongst other trophies.

The midfielder has been linked with a switch to the Herons for several months, although it had also been mooted that he would become the latest aging star to move to the Saudi Pro League after Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema.

Inter Miami’s “improved” contract offer

But less than two weeks after it was announced that Messi would be moving to Miami, it appears as the opportunity to link back up with the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner is too good to turn down for Busquets.

According to the latest reports, the player has been persuaded to make the move to Florida by virtue of Inter Miami making him an improved offer in the last few hours. The 34-year-old is expected to agree a two-year contract until the end of 2025 and will become one of the club’s three Designated Players.

Inter Miami’s MLS struggles

Both Busquets and Messi have been used to winning games and indeed titles throughout their career but could find themselves in the unusual position of being bottom of the table when they get going at DRV PNK Stadium. After 17 matches, the Herons are in 27th place out of 29 in the overall MLS standings and are last in the Eastern Conference after losing 12 and winning only five of those games.