Inter Miami, a team in the American Soccer League, has made headlines with the announcement of the signing of former Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets.
The player has signed a contract that will last until 2025, and the announcement was made on Sunday, just hours before the highly anticipated official debut of superstar Lionel Messi.
After deciding not to renew his contract with Barcelona and bringing an end to his 18-year run there, Busquets will be able to reunite with his longtime friend and former teammate Messi, who recently joined Inter Miami.
The signing of Busquets is expected to bolster the team’s roster, and the player is anticipated to assume a key role in the team.
Jorge Mas, one of the co-owners of Inter Miami, expressed his excitement at the signing of Sergio Busquets. “I am delighted to welcome Sergio Busquets to Inter Miami,” Mas remarked.
“Since the very beginning, one of our primary goals has been to assemble a team that is comprised of the very best players from all around the world. The very fact that Sergio is there speaks volumes.”
The confirmation of the successful transfer was also announced on Twitter and featured on the homepage of Inter Miami’s website. The moniker “Busi,” which is a reference to Busquets’ nickname, is displayed at Inter Miami among quotations from a variety of well-known football players.
During his time as Barcelona’s captain, Busquets made 722 appearances for the club, during which time they won nine La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey titles, three Champions League titles, and three FIFA Club World Cups. He currently holds the third-highest number of matches played for the Catalan national team, behind only Xavi and Messi’s record of 722.
Inter Miami anticipates that Busquets will be eligible for action the following Saturday when they visit the Mexican club Cruz Azul in the opening game of the Leagues Cup, where Messi will also be making his first appearance. Under the Designated Player Rule of Major League Soccer, clubs are permitted to have up to three players whose combined remuneration and acquisition expenses are greater than the wage cap.
The signing of Busquets and the addition of Messi to the team are expected to have a significant impact on Inter Miami’s performance in the league.
