Jordi Alba, a former Spanish national team defender aged 34, is set to join Inter Miami and reunite with his former Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi, who is 36 years old.
Owner Jorge Mas announced this on Tuesday and also hinted at the possibility of more new signings in the near future.
“Jordi Alba will sign today,” Mas told a group of reporters after the team’s training session.
Messi has already been accompanied by Sergio Busquets, a former Barcelona player from Spain. However, the club is seeking to bring in some young talent to improve their performance in MLS, where they currently occupy the last position. Mas mentioned that Diego Gomez, a 20-year-old Paraguayan international defender from Libertad club in Asuncion, is expected to join the team.
Additionally, there is a verbal agreement for 20-year-old Argentine midfielder Facundo Farias to join the club, according to Mas.
The owner of Miami’s team mentioned that they are currently in discussions with two promising players from the Argentine league – Tomas Aviles, a central defender from Racing Club, and Brian Aguirre, a striker from Newell’s Old Boys. However, the owner stated that their efforts to sign Luis Suarez, a veteran Uruguayan player who previously played for Barcelona, are restricted due to his contractual obligations with the Brazilian club Gremio.
“Luis Suarez is a Gremio player. He has a contract. We understand the close relationship that he has with Lionel, Busquets and Alba. They played together at Barcelona.”
“There’s been a lot of talk about Luis Suarez coming to Inter Miami. We haven’t held direct talks with Gremio or with Suarez.”
“I don’t know how Luis Suarez can leave Gremio. But if he does we are free to talk to Luis and bring him to Inter Miami. That possibility would be there,” he said.
Alba, who has played for Spain 93 times, ended his contract with Barcelona in May. The left back achieved six Spanish league titles with Barca and was a member of the team that won the 2015 Champions League. He also represented Spain in the 2012 European Championship, which they won.
Messi and Busquets joined Miami for their first training session on Tuesday and may make their debuts on Friday against Mexico’s Cruz Azul in the Leagues Cup.
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