Inter Miami signed a total of 7 players to contract extensions, including veteran defender Jordi Alba. Thus, the “magic quartet” of Messi, Suarez (previously renewed), Sergio Busquets (contract until the end of the 2025 season with an option to extend) and Jordi Alba, continue to play together for another season.
According to billionaire Jorge Mas, co-owner of Inter Miami with former player David Beckham: “Our goal is to keep these players at the club 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 with Messi at some point during the season. I am very optimistic that we will reach an agreement to extend the contract. As long as Messi is always healthy and happy, we will always see him wearing the pink shirt of the club.”
Inter Miami has 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. Shows that Mascherano has started to implement the plan to build the force for the new season.
Along with the contract extensions of 7 players, Inter Miami also announced the departure 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 being interested by other clubs from Europe. Similarly, midfielder Diego Gomez is likely to join Brighton Club in the Premier League when the winter transfer window (January 2025) opens. Meanwhile, two players Matias Rojas and Oscar Ustari are negotiating to continue playing in the 2025 season.
According to journalist Jose Armando of Deporte Total USA : “In the coming time, Inter Miami will be very active in the transfer market to strengthen the squad with quality contracts. They are monitoring goalkeeper Nahuel Losada from Lanus Club (Argentina) and defender Marc Bartra who used to play for Barcelona and is now playing for Real Betis Club in La Liga. In addition, Inter Miami is also looking for a new left-back after Nicolas Freire’s contract was not renewed.”
On the same day, December 10, the International Federation of Professional Footballers (FIFPro) announced the typical lineup for 2024. Two famous players Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were both on the nomination list. However, in the final vote, both were eliminated from the best lineup.
For Messi, this is the first time in 17 years that he has been nominated but absent from the final squad. Meanwhile, Ronaldo has been in this squad 16 times in a row before being absent for two consecutive years in 2023 and 2024.
The FIFPro 2024 squad includes goalkeeper Ederson, defenders: Dani Carvajal, Antonio Rudiger and Van Dijk; midfielders: De Bruyne, Rodri, Kroos, Jude Bellingham, strikers: Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Vinicius.
