Inter Miami are fully locked in on making transfers head of the 2025 MLS season, with Marc Bartra a rumored target for the Herons.
The Real Betis defender came through the ranks at FC Barcelona, with Bartra the latest former Lionel Messi teammate to be linked with Inter Miami as the Florida franchise look to add to their defensive ranks heading into next year.
With Inter Miami also interested in signing Neymar, Bartra might not be the only former Barcelona star to reunite with the likes of Messi, Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets in 2025, with new manager Javier Mascherano keen to get the old band back together.
Yet Inter Miami fans might have to temper expectations on when Bartra will make the move to Chase Stadium.
Bartra could move to Inter Miami in the summer for the Club World Cup
According to Pasion Futobol, Bartra’s move to Inter Miami is likely to take place in the summer before the start of the FIFA Club World Cup, with the defender’s contract with Betis expiring at the end of the La Liga season in May.
With Inter Miami losing Argentine defender Nicolas Freire already this off-season, the Herons were expected to make a move for Betis this January as a safe-bet signing for the backline heading into the 2025 MLS campaign.
However, Inter Miami could now be forced to wait until the end of the Spanish soccer season to sign Bartra, who is a regular with Betis as the Seville-based side look to qualify for Europe and compete in the UEFA Europa Conference League.
Indeed, Inter Miami will be wise to sign more than just Bartra for their defense in January, yet waiting until next summer to sign for the former Spanish international will be quite the annoyance for the Herons, who will want as much quality brought in as possible at the earliest possible window.
Bartra could be the missing piece in the Herons’ defense
Leaking goals is arguably what stopped Inter Miami from going all the way in MLS Cup, with the Florida franchise having one of the worst defensive records in the league that was often overlooked due to their record-breaking attack.
Yet signing Bartra could be what Inter Miami have been missing in their defense, with the Herons in need of a quality central defender who can command the backline and get the best out of everyone when being attacked.
Although a deal might not go through until the summer, Bartra could be worth the wait given his experience and his relationship with Inter Miami’s other Barcelona-linked players, with the defender also at the prime of his career.