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Neymar closer to MLS move but Lionel Messi reunion far from certain

Three MLS teams have reportedly entered talks with Al Hilal star Neymar, but Inter Miami aren’t one of them.

Neymar fija sus pretensiones para aterrizar en MLS
STRINGEREFE

Neymar Júnior, one of the most influential soccer players of recent times, has left an indelible mark on fans across the globe despite significant injuries throughout his career. Recently, speculation has linked him with a potential move to MLS from Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal, and new developments have emerged this Wednesday.

Which three MLS teams are in talks with Neymar?

According to Jeff Carlisle of ESPN, the 32-year-old attacker is in preliminary talks with three MLS teams. One of those is Chicago Fire, but Inter Miami, surprisingly to many, aren’t. Sources in Brazil suggest Neymar still dreams of playing for The Herons, where he would reunite with former Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez.

The reason Inter Miami aren’t trying to sign Neymar

As it stands, Inter Miami wouldn’t be able to afford Neymar’s signing, which Javier Mascherano recently addressed: “He’s a great player, and every coach in the world would want him. We know the MLS salary cap rules, and right now, it’s impossible for us.” Nevertheless, the Brazilian star remains keen on moving to South Florida.

Moving forward, the next few months could be crucial in determining how the latter stages of Neymar’s career play out. The former Santos forward first needs to regain peak physical fitness after an ACL injury, suffered in October 2023, to play for Al Hilal in the remainder of the Saudi season. That would give him the best possible chance of retuning to the Brazil team for their next World Cup 2026 qualifiers; the five-time World Cup winners will face Colombia and Argentina in March.

Romário: Neymar crucial to Brazil’s World Cup hopes

Neymar has frequently received praise from fellow Brazilian legands, with Romário recently talking him up on Charla Podcast: “Brazil only has a chance of winning the World Cup if Neymar is playing. I’ll repeat what I’ve said before: first Brazil played for Garrincha, in 1970 for Pelé, in 1994 for Romário, and in 2002 for Ronaldo. If in 2026 they don’t play for Neymar, they won’t be champions.”

With other talents like Raphinha, Vinicius, and Rodrygo, the former Barcelona striker sees the Al Hilal playmaker as key to Brazil reclaiming the most prestigious title in soccer on North American soil in the summer of 2026.

Original article written by Diego Mayel Ibarra, translated with the assistance of AI and edited by Roddy Cons.

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