Brazilian playmaker Neymar is reportedly on the verge of joining Lionel Messi at Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, reuniting with his former Barcelona and PSG teammate.
The 32-year-old’s contract with Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal expires in June 2025, but after a turbulent spell plagued by a serious knee injury and concerns over his commitment to rehabilitation, Neymar is widely expected to seek a new challenge.
Neymar joined Al-Hilal from PSG in the summer of 2023 for €90 million. However, his Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) has dropped significantly to just €11 million following his limited playing time and ongoing fitness issues. Reports suggest Al-Hilal is eager to part ways with the star.
Inter Miami, co-owned by David Beckham, is positioned as a leading destination for Neymar, with the MLS franchise reportedly overcoming financial hurdles that initially stalled negotiations.
The departure of Leonardo Campana to the New England Revolution is set to free up a designated player (DP) spot in Miami’s roster. MLS rules allow clubs to pay three players unlimited salaries while capping others at $683,700 annually (€620,000). Currently, Messi and Sergio Busquets occupy two of the DP slots, leaving the third open for Neymar.
Luis Suárez, another Barcelona alumnus and part of the iconic “MSN” trio with Messi and Neymar, is already at Inter Miami but earns a basic wage outside the DP category.
Neymar’s current annual salary of $164 million (€160 million) at Al-Hilal makes him the third-highest-paid player globally, behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, who also play in Saudi Arabia.
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