Inter Miami is on the verge of securing a deal for Brazilian forward Neymar Jr., according to a report by Marca published on Saturday.
Neymar, who made a high-profile move to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal from Paris Saint-Germain in 2023, previously formed an iconic attacking trio with Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez at Barcelona.
Known as ‘MSN,’ the partnership was celebrated for its formidable goal-scoring ability and fluid attacking play during their time at the Catalan club.
However, Neymar’s stint at Al-Hilal has been marred by ongoing fitness concerns, and reports suggest that the Saudi club may be considering terminating his contract after he made just seven appearances.
The Brazilian forward had signed a lucrative contract worth £130 million per year, making him one of the highest-paid footballers in the world.
Should the transfer to Inter Miami materialize, Neymar’s arrival would bolster the team’s attacking force, potentially recreating the potent MSN combination.
However, questions remain about the club’s current squad balance, particularly regarding its defensive weaknesses.
ESPN analyst Jeff Carlisle addressed the potential move on the Futbol Americas podcast, noting, “I don’t think Neymar is what they need right now.
They need to shore up the backline and bring in some additional quality there.
Miami always seems to push right up to the salary cap and roster limits, only to find themselves in situations where they are dealing from a position of weakness.
That could make this off-season especially difficult.”
Inter Miami’s defense was a weak point last season, with the team conceding 49 goals—well above the league’s top defenses.
While Neymar’s attacking flair would be an asset, his arrival alone would not address the team’s defensive vulnerabilities.
If the move goes through, Neymar will reunite with former Barcelona teammates Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets at Inter Miami.
However, the club’s ambitions for the MLS Cup were abruptly dashed in early November 2024 when they suffered a surprising first-round exit from the playoffs after a 3-2 home defeat to Atlanta United.
Despite a record-breaking points total in the regular season, the team was eliminated after losing twice in the best-of-three series.
Further complicating matters is the future of Uruguayan striker Luis Suárez, who signed a one-year deal with Inter Miami.
While Suárez has expressed interest in staying, concerns over his fitness due to chronic knee problems could influence the club’s decisions.
Should Suárez leave, a move for Neymar would seem more likely, but only time will tell which areas the club will prioritize for strengthening.
