Inter Miami signed contract extensions for a total of 7 players, including veteran defender Jordi Alba. Thus, the “magic quartet” Messi, Suárez (previously renewed), Sergio Busquets (contract until the end of the 2025 season with an option to extend) and Jordi Alba, continue to work side by side for another year.
According to billionaire Jorge Mas, who co-owns Inter Miami Club with former player David Beckham: “Our goal is to keep these players in the team for as long as possible. I am very confident that Messi will be here when we open the new stadium in 2026. I will sit down with Messi at some point during the season. I am extremely optimistic that we will reach an agreement to extend his contract. Always healthy and happy, we will always see each other. He was wearing the pink jersey of the club when he was playing.”
Inter Miami just got a new coach, Mr. Javier Mascherano, a close friend of Messi. In the latest move, the signing and contract extension of 7 players, including Alba and Marcelo Weigandt, Yannick Bright, Dos Santos, Ian Fray, Leo Alfonso and Ryan Sailor. It shows that Mascherano has started to implement a plan to build momentum for the new season.
In addition to extending the contracts of 7 players, Inter Miami also announced the release of 6 players including Sergil Kryvtsov, Lawson Sunderland, Cole Jensen, Nicolas Freire, Franco Negri, and Felipe Anderson. Two players Julian Gressel and Robert Taylor are still under contract but are of interest to other clubs in Europe. Similarly, midfielder Diego Gomez is likely to join Premier League club Brighton when the winter transfer window opens (January 2025). Meanwhile, two players Matias Rojas and Oscar Ustari are in negotiations to continue playing in the 2025 season.
According to journalist José Armando from Deporte Total USA : “In the near future, Inter Miami will be very active in the transfer market to reinforce the squad with quality contracts. They are keeping an eye on goalkeeper Nahuel Losada from Lanus Club (Argentina) and defender Marc Bartra, who played for Barcelona and currently plays for Real Betis Club in La Liga. In addition, Inter Miami is also looking for a new left back after Nicolás Freire’s contract was not renewed.
On the same day, December 10, the World Professional Footballers’ Association (FIFPro) announced the typical squad for 2024. Two famous players, Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, were on the list of nominations. But in the final vote, both were eliminated from the best team.
For Messi, this is the first time in 17 years that his name appears on the list of nominations but is absent from the final typical team. While Ronaldo was included in this typical team 16 times in a row before being absent for two consecutive years in 2023 and 2024.
The typical FIFPro 2024 squad includes goalkeeper Ederson, defenders: Dani Carvajal, Antonio Rudiger and Van Dijk; midfielders: De Bruyne, Rodri, Kroos, Jude Bellingham, forwards: Mbappé, Erling Haaland and Vinicius.
