Since Lionel Messi’s arrival at Inter Miami, the Florida-based team has been constantly linked to big names in the transfer window.
One of the superstars recently mentioned as a potential reinforcement for the Herons is Neymar.
Although Neymar recently said he wants to play in the FIFA Club World Cup with Al-Hilal, rumors about a possible reunion between Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, and the Brazilian have not stopped.
In fact, Inter Miami was recently handed a big boost in the Neymar race, as reports indicated that his future remains uncertain.
However, the reunion of Neymar and Lionel Messi on the field could pose a headache for Javier Mascherano, the club’s new coach.
Neymar’s arrival could bring a lack of pace to Inter Miami’s attack
Although many understandably imagine the offensive trio from Barcelona ten years ago, made up of Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Luis Suárez, the reality is that Inter Miami wouldn’t see that in MLS.
In fact, Lionel Messi and Neymar have a much more recent reference for how they can work together, which is the two years they both spent at PSG.
During their time in Paris, the team coached by Mauricio Pochettino at the time and later by Christophe Galtier the following year, lost quite a bit of speed in attack.
The way to compensate for this was simple. It all fell on one name: Kylian Mbappé. Unlike PSG, Inter Miami wouldn’t have a forward with even a remotely similar speed to the Frenchman.
Both Messi and Neymar played more like midfielders, mainly focused on creating dangerous opportunities and setting up Mbappé in the best possible positions.
It’s clear that if the Brazilian joins Inter Miami, neither he, nor Messi, nor Luis Suárez will play every game.
We’re talking about three fairly veteran players, so the sporting management will need to get to work and sign at least one more attacking option to compensate for the team’s lack of pace.
Javier Mascherano will have to solve this puzzle in his first stint in top-tier football.
Neymar is not a real need for Inter Miami
Although it would be a star signing in terms of media and marketing, Neymar may not be a real necessity for the club based at Chase Stadium.
It became evident during the season that the absence of Sergio Busquets in midfield was even more important than the absence of Lionel Messi.
And although recent reports suggest Neymar wants to sign for Inter Miami, this doesn’t seem like an urgent need for the club from a sporting perspective.
Instead, the Herons’ board should focus on strengthening both midfield and defense. Both positions are definitely areas for improvement for the squad now under Javier Mascherano’s management.